Surface modification of spectra™‐900 polyethylene fibers using RF‐plasma

Abstract RF‐plasma polymerization and bonding of allylamine onto ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) “Spectra™‐900” is described using an inductively coupled plasma reactor. This process was found to enhance the interfacial strength between the fibers (Spectra‐900) and room‐temperature‐cured epoxy matrix up to fivefold. Fibers covalently coated with allylamine plasma showed no loss in tensile strength, while argon gas plasma pretreatment of the same fibers caused up to 10% reduction in tensile strength depending on the energy and duration of the treatment. Optimum treatment was attained through a short argon plasma etching (15 s), followed by allylamine polymerization and coating for 3 min. The coating process was found to protect the fiber surface from etching by plasma ion bombardment. A loss of 19% of the original diameter was found during the 15 s precoating etching with argon plasma, indicating the sensitivity of the fiber structure to plasma etching.