High strength polyethylene fibers from high density polyethylene/organoclay composites

High strength fibers were prepared from high density polyethylene (HDPE)/organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) composites. X-ray diffraction study revealed that the composites were of conventional or phase-separated type. As-spun composite fibers were found to have higher drawability than as-spun HDPE fiber. As a result of an increased drawability, fibers with much higher mechanical properties were obtained. The highest modulus and tensile strength obtained in the present study were 38 GPa and 1.7 GPa, respectively. Study of internal morphology suggests that the role of OMMT is to suppress a defect formation and allows the fiber to be drawn to higher draw ratio. Analysis of the mechanical properties of the fibers using a Griffith type relationship suggested that the fibers have much smaller defects and the predicted attainable strength for the fiber is much higher than that previously predicted for melt-spun and hot drawn fiber.