Electron microscopy investigation of interface between carbon fiber and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

• Effect of the carbon fibers surface treatments on the adhesive interactions in UHMWPE composites was studied. • Air oxidation of carbon filler ensures most significant increase in adhesion interaction in UHMWPE based composites. • Nanosized UHMWPE fibers with 20–40nm in diameter and with 6–10μm in length, was observed on the surface of carbon fibers. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the surface of initial and modified high-strength and high-modulus carbon fibers as well as interfaces in the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, filled with above-mentioned fibers. Effect of the fibers surface modifying method on the adhesive interactions in composites was studied. It was observed that interaction of matrix with a modified surface of fibers results in a formation of bonds with strength higher than the yield strength of the polymer. It results in a formation of long nanosized polymer wires at tensile fracture of composites.