Ultradrawing and ultimate tenacity properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composite fibers filled with nanosilica particles with varying specific surface areas

Original and/or functionalized nanosilica particles with a quoted specific surface area of 100, 300, and 600 m2/g, respectively, were used to investigate the influence of specific surface areas of nanosilica particles on ultradrawing and ultimate tensile properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), UHMWPE/nanosilica, and UHMWPE/functionalized nanosilica fibers. The specific surface areas of well-dispersed functionalized nanosilica particles in UHMWPE/functionalized nanosilica fibers can positively affect their ultradrawing, orientation, ultimate tensile properties, and "micro-fibrils" morphologies. Excellent orientation and ultimate tensile properties of UHMWPE/nanofiller fibers can be prepared by ultradrawing the UHMWPE/functionalized nanosilica as-prepared fibers with optimal contents of the best prepared functionalized nanosilica particles well dispersing in the as-prepared fibers. The ultimate tensile strength value of the best prepared UHMWPE/functionalized nanosilica drawn fiber reaches 7.6 GPa, which is about 2.3 times of those of the best prepared UHMWPE drawn fiber without addition of any nanofiller. Specific surface area, morphological and Fourier transform infrared analyses of original and functionalized nanosilica particles, and/or investigations of thermal, orientation factor, and ultimate tensile properties of as-prepared and/or drawn UHMWPE/functionalized nanosilica fibers were performed to understand the above improved ultradrawing and ultimate tensile properties of the UHMWPE/functionalized nanosilica as-prepared and/or drawn fibers.