UHMWPE as interface toughening agent in glass particle filled composites

UHMWPE was adsorbed from dilute solution onto glass beads surface modified with a copolymer of 0.5–1.2 mol% vinyltrimethoxysilane-ethylene (PE-silane). Functional methacrylate groups were introduced through treatment of the UHMWPE with octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OMS) followed by reaction with 3-methacryloxypropyltrichlorosilane (Cl-MPS). Composites were prepared with 20 vol% PE-silanated/UHMWPE glass and BisGMA/TEGDMA (60/40 wt/wt); Cl-MPS treatment did not affect the results. Toughness increased 40% compared with neat or glass-filled resin, consistent with the addition of the high toughness UHMWPE; moduli were intermediate between the neat resin and glass filled composites, consistent with the relative moduli of glass and UHMWPE; flexural strengths decreased in the order: neat resin > resin + glass beads > silanated/UHMWPE coated glass beads, suggesting that each interface negatively affected the flexural strength.