The Effect of Processing Conditions on the Performance of UHMWPE-Fibre Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the main pressing parameter, i. e. temperature of a ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibrous sheet Dyneema r HB26, on the performance of resultant UHMWPE-fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites intended for the manufacturing of ballistic personal protection. The main goal of this research was to connect the pressing temperature of the initial polyethylene fibrous material and the main performance feature, i. e. the ballistic behaviour of the resultant composites. The polyethylene composites, designed at various temperatures, were subjected to testing of ballistic, mechanical, thermal (DSC) and structural (FTIR) properties, as well as the surface topography by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Attempts were made to determine the correlation between ballistic and mechanical properties of the various types of polyethylene composites designed and their structural and surface properties. Phenomena accompanying the pressing process of the fibrous polyethylene composites at various temperatures are discussed along with attempts to estimate the mechanisms of changes. This research allowed for the determination of optimal pressing conditions for fibrous polyethylene material to obtain a composite with optimal features for ballistic and personal protection application.