LAUSR

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., 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers