The effect of chemical etching on the surface of ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) fibres with emphasis on the adhesion of
epoxy to the fibres was studied. The presence of an oxygen-rich weak b
oundary layer on the non-polar UHMW-PE fibre yields poor adhesion for
the as-received fibre and for fibres etched with the weaker etchants.
A significant improvement in adhesion resulted when the weak boundary
layer was removed and the UHMW-PE oxidized through etching with chromi
c acid, a stronger etchant. This significant improvement in adhesion w
as reflected not only in a higher interfacial shear strength but also
in the presence of epoxy cohesive failure. The debonding of droplet mi
crobonds was found to be a suitable technique for the characterization
of adhesion in the UHMW-PE/epoxy system.