The Preparation and Study on UHMWPE/Epoxy Gel-Spun Fibres

Abstract

In this paper, the ultra-high molecular weight Polyethylene/ Epoxy resin (UHMWPE/Epoxy) fibres were prepared by using gel spinning. The effect of adding Epoxy on the performance of gel-spun UHMWPE/Epoxy composite fibres was investigated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was found that Epoxy serving as nucleation agent for UHMWPE/Epoxy composites could improve the ordered degree when compared to that of pure UHMWPE fibres. And the value of half-time crystallization of UHMWPE/Epoxy composite fibres was higher than pure UHMWPE fibres’ at lower cooling rate, but lower at higher cooling rate. Besides, the crystallization rate of UHMWPE/5%Epoxy composite fibres was higher than that of UHMWPE/10% Epoxy, that is to say when the content of Epoxy≤5%, the composite fibres usually exhibits excellent crystallization.