Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Fibers with Excellent Creep Resistance Derived from an Online-Tailored Fish-Skeleton-like Molecular Structure
Chenguang Yang, Dechang Tao, Fang Wang, Xin Wen, Ting Hu, Zhiyao Li, Kun Yan, Wenwen Wang, Dong Wang
Abstract
Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers with high creep resistance are widely used in ocean mooring cables, ship cables, and marine fisheries. Conventional methods of preparing creep-resistant UHMWPE fibers focus on postmodification, which significantly limits application in complex environments. Therefore, in this study, we prepared highly creep-resistant UHMWPE fibers with a molecular structure similar to that of a fish skeleton. First, the components of the spinning solution were combined proportionally, and an initiator and 1-hexene were added in varying amounts. Modified UHMWPE fiber products with polymer chain slip hindrance were prepared by melt-grafting spinning and hyperthermal drafting. The elongation declined markedly when the content of the added monomer increased to 5.0%, and the elongation decreased from 8.5 to 2.5% at a temperature of 70 °C, representing an improvement of more than 70%. This method solves the low efficiency problems encountered in conventional industrial modification methods, difficulty in modification via online spinning, and high creep resistance. This method is simple, cost-effective, and universally applicable.