Treated aramid fibers as reinforcement in nonpolar matrices
(EN)
Petsalas, HJ
(EN)
Andreopoulos, AG
(EN)
Crosslinked polyethylene finds extensive use in applications where improved thermal resistance is required. Furthermore, reinforced and crosslinked polyethylene presents high strength at elevated temperatures, so that the field of applications of such materials is considerably enlarged. Fiber pretreatment was performed in order to insert unsaturated groups in the aramid chain. These groups could be, in turn, grafted in the polyethylene backbone during the crosslinking reaction. Tensile measurements and microscopy on the fracture surface were carried out in order to evaluate changes introduced in the fiber by surface treatment.
(EN)
