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Acid treatment for functionalizing polyethylene fiber surfaces for enhanced adhesion to epoxy resins
Author(s) -
Ravichandran V.,
Obendorf S. K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1994.220051208
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , epoxy , polyethylene , adhesion , fiber , contact angle , adhesive , wetting , synthetic fiber , surface modification , covalent bond , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , chemistry , engineering
The utility of high‐strength, high‐modulus polyethylene fibers in fiber‐reinforced composites is limited due to its poor interfacial adhesion to various polymeric matrices. One way to overcome this limitation is to introduce reactive functionalities on the fiber surface capable of covalently bonding to matrix resins. Ultra high‐strength polyethylene (UHSPE) fibers were treated with chlorosulfonic acid. The surface acid groups were found to considerably improve the interfacial adhesion between polyethylene fibers and epoxy resins as shown by the microbond test. These surface functionalities were found to improve the fiber wettability, as shown by contact angle measurements using the Wilhelmy balance method. Colorimetric measurements of methylene blue absorption were used to quantify the surface concentrations of the acid groups. It was possible to functionalize the UHSPE fiber surfaces using this method to obtain fibers that formed a stronger adhesive bond with epoxy resins; this was achievable without sacrificing other fiber mechanical properties.