STUDY ON THE PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ULTRA-HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE//CARBON NANOTUBES COMPOSITE FIBER

摘要

The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite fibers were prepared by gel spinning. To realize the homogeneous dispersion and good load transfer between the CNTs and the polymer matrix, the purification and functionalization of the CNTs were carried out. TEM, SEM, XRD, IR and Raman were used to characterize the CNTs, its dispersion in the matrix, the functional group changes on the surface of the CNTs and the interaction between the CNTs and the matrix. The results showed that there was no obvious aggregate in the obtained composite fibers and a good interaction between the CNTs and the UHMWPE matrix was also established. Furthermore, it was found that the addition of CNTs resulted into a peculiar structure, a more regular alignment of the UHMWPE macromolecules.