Amination of ultra-high strength polyethylene using ammonia plasma

Plasma treatment of ultra-high strength polyethylene (UHSPE) fabric using ammonia gas to implant surface amine groups was investigated. The effects of three treatment times and three treatment powers were studied. After treatment, the wettability of UHSPE fabric was found to increase dramatically, becoming completely wettable at treatment times greater than 1 min. The primary amine concentration, as determined by dye ion-exchange experiments, was greatest at a treatment time of 5 min and a power of 50 W. Scanning electron photomicrographs showed no change in surface texture. The strength of single fibers extracted from the fabric decreased approximately 10% at some treatment conditions.