The mechanical interlocking and wetting at the interface between argon plasma treated UHMPE fiber and vinylester resin

摘要

The ultra high modulus polyethylene (UHMPE)fiber was treated with argon plasma in order to improve theinterfacial adhesion of UHMPE fiber/vinylester composites. Argonplasma treatment of the UHMPE fiber introduces micro-pittingsand roughness onto the UHMPE fiber surface. These micro-pittings and surface roughness increase the interfacial adhesion ofthe UHMPE fiber/vinylester composites through the machanicalinterlocking between the UHMPE fiber and vinylester resion.Argon plasma treatment. also changes the UHMPE fiber surfaceinto chemically onore inert state incomparison with the controlUHMPE fiber surface. These chemical changes decrease theefficiency of the mechanical interlocking as the inert surface makesthe wetting of the UHMPE fiber by the vinylester resin difficult. Inthis study, the mechanical interlocking through the micro-pittingsis known to play a key role in improving the interfacial adhesion ofUHMPE fiber/vinylester composites by the argon plasma treatment.However, the complete wetting of the UHMPE fiber b thevinylester resin is known to be an important requirement for theeffective mechanical interlocking between the UHMPE fiber and vinylester resin.