Mechanical failure characterization of oxygen plasma modified UHMWPE/vinyl ester composites using acoustic emission

This study reveals the mechanical and interfacial bonding properties of glow discharge oxygen plasma modified ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/vinyl ester composites modified by oxygen plasma. The composites’ flexural, tensile, and impact-resistant properties were estimated, and the failure mechanism was analyzed by acoustic emission (AE) testing. The flexural stress, tensile stress, and impact-resistance force of the modified three plain weave structures composites are 193.37–734%, 11–15%, and 16–17% higher than those without modification. It depends on flexibility, interfacial bonding strength, reinforcement structure, and stiffness. In addition to the flexural properties, the tensile and impact properties increase with fiber volume fraction. In the AE test, the flexural and tensile cumulative energies without modification are 9230.42 mV*mS and 1.735 V*S higher than modified materials. The characteristic frequency range of each failure mechanism is determined by cluster analysis. Low, medium, and high frequency correspond to matrix cracking, fiber/matrix debonding, and fiber breakage. Oxygen plasma contributes to the wettability of the reinforcement and the interfacial bonding strength, resisting cracking growth.