ADHESIVE PROPERTIES AND FAILURE OF ETCHED UHMW-PE FIBERS

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.