Surface modification of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers by plasma treatment. I. Improving surface adhesion

The fiber/epoxy resin adhesion increases after plasma treatment on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW‐PE) fibers. The surface modification of UHMW‐PE monofilaments was studied using a combination of techniques: contact‐angle measurements, SEM, and pullout tests. The results may be summarized as follows: Infiuenced by different plasma parameters and draw ratios of the monofilaments, the adhesion increases by at least four times by plasma treatment. Failure in the pullout tests involve rupture within a treated monofilament and the skin of it was peeled off; the degree of peeling‐off is affected by different plasma treatment conditions and draw ratios of the monofilaments. There is only a slight decrease in the surface energy of the treated monofilaments with aging time. Ways of combining plasma etching with other chemical treatments to further improve the fiber/resin adhesion have also been studied.