Ultradrawing properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/hydrochloric acid treated attapulgite fibers

Investigation of the influence of the purified and acid treated attapulgite (ATP) contents on the ultradrawing properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/purified attapulgites (UHMWPE/ATP, F100Ay) and UHMWPE/acid treated ATP (F100AxM-y) as-prepared fibers is reported. In which, acid treated ATP nanofibers were treated with varying concentrations of hydrochloric solutions for various amounts of time. Similar to those found for the orientation factor values, the achievable draw ratios of the F100Ay and F100AxM-y as-prepared fibers and tensile strength values of their drawn fibers approach a maximal value as their purified ATP and/or acid treated ATP contents reach the optimal values at 0.05 and 0.025 wt%, respectively. In which, the maximal Dra values of F100AxM-0.025 as-prepared series fiber specimens and the tensile strengths and moduli of the drawn F100AxM-0.025 fiber specimens are significantly higher than those of the F100A0.05 drawn fiber specimens prepared at the same draw ratios and optimal ATP contents but without acid treatment. Moreover, it is worth noting that the maximal Dra values of the F100AxM-0.025 as-prepared fiber specimens and the tensile strengths and moduli of the drawn F100AxM-0.025 fiber specimens reached another maximal value as their ATP nanofibers were treated by 5 M HCl solutions for 60 min. To understand the interesting ultradrawing, orientation and tensile properties of F100Ay and F100AxM-y fiber specimens, Fourier transform infra-red, specific surface areas, scanning electron microcope and elemental analyses of the purified and acid treated ATP nanofibers, and/or morphological and thermal analyses of the F100Ay and F100AxM-y fiber specimens were performed in this study.