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Harnessing the Melting Peculiarities of Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibers for the Processing of Compacted Fiber Composites
Author(s) -
ShavitHadar Liron,
Khalfin Rafail L.,
Cohen Yachin,
Rein Dmitry M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200500045
Subject(s) - crystallinity , materials science , composite material , polyethylene , compaction , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , composite number , crystallization , fiber , polymer , crystal (programming language) , phase (matter) , synthetic fiber , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , engineering , programming language
Summary: Compacted fiber composites offer unique properties due to their lack of an extraneous matrix. The conditions of processing ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were simulated in a heated pressure cell. In situ X‐ray diffraction measurements were used to follow the relevant transitions and the changes in the degree of crystallinity during melting and crystallization. The results strongly support the suggestion that the hexagonal crystal phase, in which the chain conformation is extremely mobile on the segmental level, constitutes the physical basis of compaction technologies for processing UHMWPE fibers into a single‐polymer composite. This report suggests that using a pseudo‐phase diagram outlining the occurrence of different phases during slow heating and the degree of crystallinity can provide valuable insight into the technological parameters relevant for optimal processing conditions.Degree of crystallinity as a function of pressure and temperature in a region relevant to compaction processes.