Self-heating effect on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres and composites. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Del Rosso, Stefano; Iannucci, Lorenzo; Kempesis, Dimitrios; Curtis, Paul T.; Duke, Phillip W.
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 220(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: UHMWPE -- Self-heating effect -- Fatigue tests -- S-N curves; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110879
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres and laminates subjected to monotonic tensile loads experienced an increase in temperature. Fatigue tests performed on the laminates revealed a strong dependency of the fatigue life on the testing conditions. Polymer matrix composites reinforced with UHMWPE fibres can generate a significant amount of heat when subjected to cyclic loadings. The maximum temperature measured in UHMWPE reinforced specimens before failure was 102 ± 1 °C. Depending on the fatigue parameters, the specimens showed two different types of failure modes: mechanical or thermal. Abstract: This paper investigates the self-heating effect observed during testing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres and their composites, in particular Dyneema® SK76 fibres and Dyneema® HB26 laminates. Monotonic and cyclic tests were carried out at strain rates between 0.00833 s −1 and 250 s −1, frequencies up to 20 Hz, and different mean stress, amplitude stress and stress ratios to evaluate the self-heating effect developing in the materials. Measurements of the specimen's temperature were carried out using a thermochromic liquid crystal paint and an infrared sensor. Experimental results showed that the temperature increased during fibre testing by as much as 13.2 ± 0.2 °C and, even though the maximum temperature was below the melting temperature of the material, melting was observed. Tension-tension cyclic tests showed that the fatigue life of the coupon specimens significantly depended on the testing conditions. In some cases, the measured temperature was as high as 102 ± 1 °C. Depending on the fatigue parameters, the laminates showed two different types of failure modes: mechanical or thermal. Hence, it is important to take into account self-heating effects when designing engineering parts reinforced with UHMWPE fibres.