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Temperature-dependent fracture mechanisms in ultra-high strength polyethylene fibers

  • Polymer Science
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Abstract

The influence of the temperature on the mechanical properties of gel-spun hot-drawn ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers has been investigated.

From these experiments two different fracture mechanisms could be distinguished. The results indicate that above 20‡C a stress-induced orthorhombic-hexagonal phase transition is responsible for fiber failure. In the hexagonal or rotator phase the chains can easily slip past one another and fiber fracture is initiated by creep. Below 20‡C the phase transition cannot be introduced because the stress needed for the phase transition would exceed the covalent-bond strength in the polyethylene chain. The strength temperature data of the low temperature region was treated with Zhurkov's kinetic concept, leading to a bond-fracture activation energy of 160 kj/mol and an activation volume of 0.01 nm3. These values, together with the data from irradiation and shrinkage experiments, indicated that in the low temperature region fiber failure might be initiated by the fracture of trapped entanglements instead of that by overstressed, taut tie molecules.

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Author notes

  1. A. J. Pennings

    Present address: Department of Polymer Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bayer AG, Corporate Research ZF-TPE1, Leverkusen, ERG

    D. J. Dijkstra

  2. Dow Chemical Nederland BV, Terneuzen, The Netherlands

    J. C. M. Torfs

  3. Department of Polymer Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    D. J. Dijkstra & J. C. M. Torfs

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  2. J. C. M. Torfs
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  3. A. J. Pennings
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Dijkstra, D.J., Torfs, J.C.M. & Pennings, A.J. Temperature-dependent fracture mechanisms in ultra-high strength polyethylene fibers. Colloid & Polymer Sci 267, 866–875 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410334

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