Time-dependent properties of newly developed multiscale UHMWPE composites. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vadivel, Hari Shankar; Al-Maqdasi, Zainab; Pupure, Liva; Joffe, Roberts; Kalin, Mitjan; Emami, Nazanin
• Is Part Of: Polymer testing. Volume 105(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: UHMWPE -- Multiscale -- Nanocomposite -- Creep -- Tensile -- Stiffness; Polymers -- Testing -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Tests -- Périodiques; 620.1920287
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2021.107400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9418

Abstract

Abstract: Ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites reinforced with Graphene Oxide (GO), Nanodiamonds (ND), and Short Carbon Fibres (SCF) are characterised for their mechanical performance in tensile and short-term creep tests. A methodology to separate and analyse the materials' viscoelastic (VE) and viscoplastic (VP) responses is applied and evaluated. The results show a clear dependence of the performance on size scale/morphology of the reinforcements. All composites show time-dependent VP responses that can be expressed by Zapas model and fit the experimental data with high accuracy. The analysed VE strains and creep compliance curves reveal the nonlinear stress-dependent VE behaviour of all composites at all tested creep stresses. Combining multiscale reinforcements results in an improvement that surpasses that of individual reinforcements. The results of this work offer valuable input for the design and selection of polymer-based materials in demanding applications where prolonged use under service conditions is critical to their performance. Highlights: Novel multiscale UHMWPE-based composites are evaluated for time-dependent response. Damage onset and development is assessed by stiffness degradation at increasing loads. Viscoelastic and viscoplastic strains separated and analysed. VE response is nonlinear even at creep stress 30% of maximum tensile stress. Multiscale composite displayed the lowest creep and a delayed stiffness degradation.