SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITES OF ULTRA-HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE WITH CARBON FIBRES OR FIBRE MONOCRYSTALS

摘要

The aim of this work is to study the preparation and characterisation of composite materials based on UHMWPE, carbon fibre (including modified carbon fibre), and fibre monocrystals of alkali titanates, in order to improve some of their properties. The unmodified and thermally modified carbon fibres did not have any reinforcing effect on the tensile strength of the composites, and only an insignificant increase was observed with fibre the fibre monocrystals in the range 0.5 ?1.0% w/w. Nevertheless, the composites obtained with carbon fibres proved to have better characteristics than the unfilled polymer. These included electrical conductivity, improved thermal stability and lower coefficient of friction, lower temperature coefficient of linear expansion and lower shrinkage. UHMWPE/fibre monocrystal composites also showed better characteristics than the unfilled UHMWPE, especially the Vicat softening point. 19 refs.