Investigation of the Ultradrawing Properties of Gel Spun Fibers of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Carbon Nanotube Blends

The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) contents, ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) concentrations and temperatures of UHMWPE, and CNTs added gel solutions exhibited significant influence on their rheological and spinning properties and the drawability of the corresponding UHMWPE/CNTs as-prepared fibers. Tremendously high shear viscosities (eta s) of UHMWPE gel solutions were found as the temperatures reached 140 degrees C, at which their eta s values approached the maximum. After adding CNTs, the eta s values of UHMWPE/CNTs gel solutions increase significantly and reach a maximum value as the CNTs contents increase up to a specific value. At each spinning temperature, the achievable draw ratios obtained for UHMWPE as-prepared fibers prepared near the optimum concentration are significantly higher than those of UHMWPE as-prepared fibers prepared at other concentrations. After addition of CNTs, the achievable draw ratios of UHMWPE/CNTs as-prepared fibers prepared near the optimum concentration improve consistently and reach a maximum value as their CNTs contents increase up to an optimum value. To understand these interesting drawing properties of the UHMWPE and UHMWPE/CNTs as-prepared fibers, the birefringence, thermal, morphological, and tensile properties of the as-prepared and drawn fibers were investigated. Possible mechanisms accounting for these interesting properties are proposed. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 110: 2538-2548, 2008