The effects of oxidation on gel-spun ultra-high-modulus and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres were investigated. The single-fibre tensile properties of the UHMWPE fibres were lowered by all chromic acid/potassium dichromate oxidation reactions studied. The tensile properties were highly reaction-time-dependent for the fibres treated in the acid-assisted reactions with CrO 3 (|) and with K2Cr20 7 (lla) at a higher H2SO 4 concentration (or a 1:20 K2Cr207:H2SO 4 weight ratio). The tensile properties of fibres treated in the acid-assisted reaction with K2Cr20 7 (Ilb) at a lower H2SO4 concentration (or a 1:1.3 K2Cr2OT:H2SO 4 weight ratio) and the base-catalysed reaction (III) were slightly lowered, but were independent of reaction time. The fractured fibre ends from reactions lib and III remained fibrillated as observed on the untreated fibres, whereas brittle fractures were observed on those oxidized by reactions I and lla. Experimental results indicated that the oxidative agents in reactions I and lla penetrated more thoroughly into the fibrillar structures of the fibres than in the base-catalysed reaction III and reaction lib. The changes in the tensile and fracture properties suggested different diffusion and oxidative mechanisms between chromic acid (I) and potassium dichromate (lib) under similar sulphuric acid-assisted conditions. All oxidative reactions reduced superheating, which resulted in the increased heat of fusion but decreased melting temperatures and narrowed melting peak widths.
Посилання на статтю:
Effects of oxidation on mechanical and physical properties of ultra-high-modulus and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibres / You-Lo Hsieh*, Geoff Barrall and Shanqing Xu // Polymer. – 1992. – Vol 33. – P. 536-545.
