Radial bidimensional compression of UHMPE fibres

Using the areal density of the "[110] diamond-like" zig-zag carbon-carbon chains presented by the crystal structure of polyethylene, Frank (1964) argues that the maximum tensile modulus for highly oriented polyethylene is 285 GN m exp -2 . To date, only approx40 GN m exp -2 has been realized owing to the onset of mechanical failure inherent to the known methods of manufacture, namely drawing, spinning and variations thereof. In an attempt to improve on the 40 GN m exp -2 , the author has carried out experiments to radially bidimensionally compress bundles of UHMPE fibres. The point here is that bidimensional compression, in the plane perpendicular to the fibre direction, causes fibre extension and, presumably, chain extension, without there being any possibility of fibre fracture even, in principle, at infinitely large bidimensional compressive strain.