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Weibull statistics of tensile strength distribution of gel-cast ultra-oriented film threads of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene

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Abstract

Studies of the potentials of the multi-stage hot-zone drawing technique for enhancing the tensile strength (σ) of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) gel-cast highly oriented film threads, the applicability of the Weibull statistics to the σ distribution, and the solvent role in the film thread strength are presented. It is shown that the results of a large number of mechanical measurements for two series of UHMWPE film threads drawn to an ultimate draw ratio (λ) of 120 from xerogels formed from 1.5 % solutions of UHMWPE in decalin or paraffin oil are satisfactorily described by the Weibull model. It is shown that the threads produced are characterised by an average strength σ av = 4.7 GPa and 20 % of the samples have σ = 5.2–6.5 GPa. This is higher than the strength of the commercially available gel-spun oriented UHMWPE fibres of σ = 3.5 GPa. It is found that the solvent nature does not affect the tensile strength of the film threads but exerts a considerable influence on the long-term characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by the Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations of the Russian Federation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Physics of Strength, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, 26 Politekhnicheskaya, St. Petersburg, Russia, 194021

    Yu. M. Boiko, V. A. Marikhin, L. P. Myasnikova & E. I. Radovanova

  2. Laboratory of Materials Testing, Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, 18 Bol’shaya Morskaya, St. Petersburg, Russia, 191183

    O. A. Moskalyuk

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  1. Yu. M. Boiko
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  2. V. A. Marikhin
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  3. L. P. Myasnikova
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  4. O. A. Moskalyuk
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  5. E. I. Radovanova
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Correspondence to Yu. M. Boiko.

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Boiko, Y.M., Marikhin, V.A., Myasnikova, L.P. et al. Weibull statistics of tensile strength distribution of gel-cast ultra-oriented film threads of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. J Mater Sci 52, 1727–1735 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0464-9

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