Surface modification of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber by different kinds of SiO₂ nanoparticles

We successfully improved the interfacial adhesion strength between ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber and resin by the surface modification of UHMWPE fiber with two kinds of SiO₂ nanoparticles through gel spinning process. Modified effect of treated SiO₂ nanoparticles by coupling agent was superior to original SiO₂ nanoparticles. Compared with unmodified fibers, pull-out tests of modified UHMWPE/treated SiO₂ fibers revealed that interfacial adhesion strength increased by the maximum of 10.95%, but corresponding breaking strength decreased by 8.51%. In addition, the interfacial adhesion strength and breaking strength could continue to enhance with increasing the additive amount of treated SiO₂ nanoparticles. The results of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicated that the crystallinity of all modified fibers decreased while crystallite dimension increased, and the surface of modified fibers by treated SiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited polar functional group (C=O). The superiority of this modified technology was that it realized the bulk industrial production and maneuverability, low cost, and no pollution. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1928–1936, 2017.