Mechanical properties of UHMWPE/EVA hybrid composite reinforced with fibers obtained by electrospinning

Abstract

Alumina (Al2O3) nano fibers are prepared from an aqueous solution of aluminum hydroxy chloride/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/water using the electrospinning technique. The weight ratio of aluminum hydroxy chloride/PVA was 5: 1. After calcification of fibers at 1100 ° C, continuous aluminum oxide fibers were obtained from 200 to 800 nm. The fiber morphology is characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Image analysis software (Image Pro Plus) was used to measure the diameter of the obtained aluminum oxide (Al2O3) fibers. The aim of this paper is to examine the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite, consisting of a polymer matrix (ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers (UHMWPE) and Al2O3 fibers obtained by electrospinning. Al2O3 fibers were added in an amount of 1 wt. % as shown by the improvement of the mechanical properties of the matrix and the hybrid composite.

Keywords

• Electrospinning
• Al2O3 fibers
• mechanical properties
• EVA matrix
• UHMWPE