Influence of high-density polyethylene content on the rheology, crystal structure, and mechanical properties of melt spun ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene/high-density polyethylene blend fibers

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) content significantly influences the structure and mechanical properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/HDPE blend fibers. The molecular chain disentanglement and crystallization characteristics of as-spun filaments and fibers and how the structure affects the final mechanical properties of the fibers were thoroughly studied by adding different contents of HDPE. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and rheological analysis indicated that the molecular entanglement decreased with increasing HDPE content, improving the UHMWPE melt processability. Sound velocity orientation (SVO) studies indicated that the UHMWPE/HDPE as-spun filaments and fibers with an HDPE content of 40 wt% (U6H4) had a higher molecular chain orientation level. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analyses indicated that U6H4 had the highest crystallinity and the thinnest grains in the axial direction, respectively. The compact crystal structure and fully stretched molecular chains of U6H4 yielded the best mechanical properties. The present work disclosed the effect mechanism of HDPE contents on the preparation and properties of UHMWPE/HDPE fibers, which provided an effective and universal strategy for manufacturing high-strength UHMWPE/HDPE fibers with the melt spinning method.

Automated summary

The content of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has a significant influence on the structure and mechanical properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/HDPE blend fibers. The addition of different contents of HDPE leads to a decrease in molecular entanglement and an improvement in the melt processability of UHMWPE. Moreover, UHMWPE/HDPE fibers with an HDPE content of 40 wt% exhibit higher molecular chain orientation, greater crystallinity, and thinner grain size, resulting in the best mechanical properties. This study reveals the effect mechanism of HDPE content on the preparation and properties of UHMWPE/HDPE fibers, providing an effective and universal strategy for manufacturing high-strength fibers with the melt spinning method.