Carbon fiber reinforced highly filled charcoal powder/ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composites

Effects of wood charcoal powder and carbon fiber (CF) on morphologies, tensile properties and dynamic mechanical properties of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites prepared by the twin-screw extrusion method were studied. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the surface of initial charcoal power as well as interfaces in the UHMWPE, filled with high-modulus carbon fibers. The results showed that wood charcoal could have strong interfacial interaction with UHMWPE and good dispersion of carbon fiber was achieved. The tensile strength and Young's modulus significantly increased up to 123.0 MPa and 2551.1 MPa respectively. It is obvious that while increasing charcoal and carbon fiber concentration resulted in increased storage modulus, the E' reached 25.1 GPa for the sample 30UHMWPE-70charcoal/8CF at -150 degrees C. Furthermore, the composites show lower tan delta values than those of the neat UHMWPE in the glass-transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.