Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene reinforced polypropylene and polyamide composites toward developing low-noise automobile interior

Abstract

Circular ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) of 60 and 140 mu m particle size, to ensure the homogenous mixing, was used as filler materials for developing the polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6)-based composite specimens to investigate the effect of UHMWPE on reducing the noise, if the composites are used in car interior. PP composite containing 5wt % UHMWPE of 60 mu m particle size showed the lowest in-plane friction coefficient (0.18 +/- 0.01), improved Izod impact strength (33 +/- 2.9J/m(2)), and considerable tensile properties (37 +/- 1.5MPa of strength and 21 +/- 1.1% of elongation at break), indicating its promise as low-noise and durable material to be used in the car interior. Although PA6 composites showed decreasing friction coefficients with increasing UHMWPE content, their tensile and impact properties became poor or inconsistent, maybe due to the incompatibility of nonpolar UHMWPE with polar PA, and the large difference of their melting temperatures. The extent of compatibility of PP and PA6 with the UHMWPE has been investigated by analyzing the morphology (using scanning electron microscope) and the thermal properties of the composites. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48720.