UHMWPE fiber reinforced by carbon nano tubes

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber has virtues of high tenacity, high modulus, low density, excellent chemical resistance, etc. Being an excellent industrial fiber, it could be widely applied in military, oil exploration, ocean transportation, sports equipment, electrical construction, ship fabricating and fishery. The UHMWPE fiber (average molecular weight of above 1 million) could be processed by gel spinning, ultra elongation. High performance polyethylene fiber technology has been implemented in industry. However, the inherent defects of PE fiber such as creep deformation and weak thermal endurance still restricts its application to a great extent. Cooperate with related universities and institutes, we research and develop UHMWPE / carbon nanotube composite fibers, we add carbon nanotube into polyethylene fibers to overcome the defect under stress. We become the initiate in China, meanwhile we are also the global leader in the industrialization of this product. Our company has independent intellectual property rights such as invention patent and utility patent. As the creep performance has been improved to enhance the ability of anti-ageing, the company takes full use the features to develop military products such as ballistic fabrics which can significantly extend the service life. As a reinforcing material, carbon nanotubes have many excellent properties. The study towards morphology, structure, dispersion, mechanic, creep properties and heat resistance shows that: 1) The size of UHMWPE / CNTs grain sample is in the nanometer scales; 2) Adding carbon nanotubes to the matrix of UHMWPE can help to improve strength and modulus, especially selecting functional treated carbon nanotubes could get even better effect; 3) Creep performance could be affected by temperature. Carbon nanotubes can restrain the creep properties of UHMWPE; 4) Carbon nanotubes could significantly improve heat resistance of UHMWPE fiber.