Interlaminar Shear Behaviour of UHMWPE (Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene) Based Composites with Different Matrixes
Keywords:
Endumax®, UHMWPE, matrix, Interlaminar shear, Failure mechanismAbstract
Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (Endumax®) based composite was treated to investigate the route to improve interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and its failure mechanism. The failure mechanism of the composite was observed in this study by some failure tests such 3-point bending on composite, and SEM analysis. To increase ILSS value of this UHMWPE based composite, some routes were done by using different matrixes (HDPE film, LLDPE film, Epoxy resin, Styrene). For overall practical approach, the failure mechanism detected in this study was caused by delamination of UHMWPE fibrils. They were ripped apart during mechanical test that lead to delamination of the composite. Numerous practical approach conducted, but the UHMWPE composite would keep at low shear strength as long as nothing enhance the interaction between the UHMWPE fibrils.