THE EFFECT OF CHROMIC-ACID TREATMENT ON THE MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ARAMID FIBER-REINFORCED ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITE
Jm. Hofste et al., THE EFFECT OF CHROMIC-ACID TREATMENT ON THE MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ARAMID FIBER-REINFORCED ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITE, Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine, 9(10), 1998, pp. 561-566
Surface oxidation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
powder has an influence on the mixing procedure of chopped fibres and
UHMWPE powder. Due to this oxidation hydrogen bonds can be formed bet
ween the fibres and powder particles, leading to a more homogeneous fi
bre-powder mixture. This treatment improves the fibre-matrix interface
and thus the physical properties of the composite. Chromic acid treat
ment also has an influence on the mechanical and tribological properti
es of the aramid-UHMWPE composite. Although only a relatively small im
provement is observed in the modulus, yield stress and stress at break
, of 33, 17 and 9%, respectively, a substantial enhancement in wear re
sistance of 117% is observed.