ABSTRACT
Abstract Matrix materials used in advanced composites reinforced by organic fibers such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) should not only possess high performance, but also need to have good wettability and adhesion properties with the fibers. We previously developed a nano-epoxy matrix with 0.3 wt% reactive graphitic nanofibers (r-GNFs) that showed significant enhancements in mechanical, thermal, hygrothermal properties, and UV aging resistance. In this paper, the wetting behavior and the adhesion properties of the nano-epoxy matrix with UHMWPE fibers are presented. The results indicate that the nanoepoxy matrix is also the most effective in improving wettability and adhesion properties with the UHMWPE fiber. The corresponding mechanisms of the interfacial adhesion performance improvement of the nanoepoxy matrix with the UHMWPE fiber are elucidated. This work demonstrates that the nano-epoxy matrix is a unified polymeric matrix with extraordinary wettability and adhesion properties for organic fiber reinforcements. It validates that the novel nano-epoxy matrices effectively improve the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the reinforcement and provide important candidates for high-performance fiberpolymer composites in aerospace and other industry applications.
