Features of Statistical Strength Distributions in Mono- and Polyfilament Ultraoriented High-Strength Fibers of Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene

The regularities of statistical distributions of breaking strength of high-strength ultraoriented monofilaments and polyfilament fibers consisting of several hundreds single ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were analyzed using the Weibull and Gauss models based on a large array of measurements (50 identical samples in each series). It was shown that the distribution of strength of polyfilament UHMWPE fibers can be described both in terms of the normal Gauss distribution and using the standard Weibull distribution function. At the same time, the strength distribution in UHMWPE monofilaments drawn to an ultimate draw ratio of 120 is governed by normal distribution. The reasons for the detected difference in the types of statistical distributions of breaking strengths in high-strength UHMWPE mono- and polyfilaments are discussed.