INFLUENCE OF CHEMICAL CROSS-LINKING ON THE CREEP-BEHAVIOR OF ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE FIBERS

In this study, the effect of chemical crosslinking on the creep behavi or of high-strength fibers, obtained by gel-spinning and subsequent ho t-drawing of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), is exa mined. In the first part of the paper, the general aspects of the cree p behavior of these fibers are discussed. The second part deals with U HMWPE fibers that are crosslinked by means of a) chlorosulfonation and b) dicumyl peroxide treatment followed by UV irradiation. The latter technique leads to an improvement of the creep resistance of the UHMWP E fibers without affecting their high tensile strengths. In spite of t he fact that the network formation is fairly high, the creep cannot be completely removed. The results indicate that the creep process in UH MWPE fibers is associated with a deformation mechanism in the crystall ine regions of the fiber, which are not affected by chemical crosslink ing.