Enhancement on ultimate tensile properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composite fibers filled with activated nanocarbon particles with varying specific surface areas

Abstract

This investigation aims to improve the ultradrawing and ultimate tensile properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers by incorporating small amounts of functionalized activated nanocarbon particles with a wide range of specific surface areas (ca. 100-1,400 m 2 /g) during gel spinning processes of UHMWPE fibers. The ultradrawing, ultimate tensile, orientation properties, and "microfibril" characteristics of UHMWPE/functionalized activated nanocarbon fibers was discovered to improve considerably with the increase in specific surface areas of functionalized activated nanocarbon. An extraordinary high ultimate tensile strength at 95.8 g/d was obtained for the best prepared UHMWPE/functionalized activated nanocarbon drawn fiber. This value is the highest value ever reported for one-stage drawn UHMWPE fibers and is about 2.9 times that of the UHMWPE drawn fiber prepared in this study. In addition to thermal, ultimate tensile, and orientation factor properties of asprepared and/or drawn UHMWPE/functionalized activated nanocarbon fibers, specific surface area, Fourier transform infrared, and morphological analyses of original and functionalized activated nanocarbons were performed to comprehend the considerably improved ultradrawing, ultimate tensile properties, and microfibril characteristics of the UHMWPE/functionalized activated nanocarbon fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI.,

Utilization of supercritical CO2 as a processing aid for preparation of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/functionalized activated nanocarbon fibers

“…In addition, compared to F 100 or F 100 FANC 13 y gel solutions having the same FANC 13 as-prepared fibers. Lastly, as suggested from our previous investigations [11] and later in this manuscript, small concentrations of activated nanocarbon nanofillers can serve as efficient nucleation sites and facilitate the crystallization of UHMWPE molecules into crystals F 100 FANC 13 y fibers. Presumably, during such rapid nucleation processes, the UHMWPE molecules remaining in the crystal boundaries or amorphous regions (especially in the branch or entangled parts) may solidify and pack relatively randomly without being well structured.…”

“…The significantly lower α‐, β‐, and γ ‐transitions observed for scCO 2 105 F 100 and scCO 2 105 F 100 FANC 13 y as‐prepared fibers is mostly likely due to the less‐restrained molecules in interfacial regions of amorphous or crystalline boundary phases of scCO 2 105 F 100 and scCO 2 105 F 100 FANC 13 y as‐prepared fibers. Lastly, as suggested from our previous investigations and later in this manuscript, small concentrations of activated nanocarbon nanofillers can serve as efficient nucleation sites and facilitate the crystallization of UHMWPE molecules into crystals with low‐melting temperatures during the gel‐spinning processes of F 100 FANC 13 y and scCO 2 105 F 100 FANC 13 y fibers. Presumably, during such rapid nucleation processes, the UHMWPE molecules remaining in the crystal boundaries or amorphous regions (especially in the branch or entangled parts) may solidify and pack relatively randomly without being well structured.…”

“…Functionalized ANC with PE chains grafted onto ATANC would lead to better interfacial adhesion between the UHMWPE matrix and the functionalized ANC fillers. As reported in our previous investigation , this will lead to a better dispersion of functionalized ANC fillers in UHMWPE/functionalized ANC gel solutions and better tensile tenacity the fully drawn UHMWPE/functionalized ANC fibers.…”

“…In order to observe the morphological characteristics on the surfaces of all nanofillers, 10 μg of ANC nanofillers were dispersed in 10 mL alcohol, while 10 μg of FANC x y nanofillers were 11 1,504 FANC 13 13 1,513 FANC 15 15 1,505 FANC 20 20 1,472 dispersed in 10 mL decalin before morphological examination. The dispersed nanofillers were then dried onto a carbon-coated copper grid under ambient conditions.…”

“…Commercially available UHMWPE fibers are promising high strength materials used in various fields, such as aviation, navigation/sailing, communications, sports, and military‐grade reinforcements, armor plates, bullet‐proof vests, and helmets . Our recent investigations have demonstrated that nanofillers having considerably high‐specific surface areas can efficiently serve as the nucleating agents during the crystallization processes of the nanofiller‐filled UHMWPE fibers and significantly enhance their drawing and ultimate tensile tenacity. It is worth empathizing that the ultimate tensile properties of UHMWPE/modified nanofiller fibers improve considerably with the increase in specific surface areas of the modified nanofillers described above.…”