The mechanical properties of epoxy

resin composites modified by compound

modification
Cite as: AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5047083
Submitted: 05 July 2018 • Accepted: 26 September 2018 • Published Online: 25 October 2018

Cuiyu Li, Rui Zhang, Gaopan Wang, et al.

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AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5047083 8, 105325

© 2018 Author(s).
 AIP ADVANCES 8, 105325 (2018)

The mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites

modified by compound modification
Cuiyu Li,1,2 Rui Zhang,1,a Gaopan Wang,1 and Yameng Shi1
1 School of Textile, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China
2 KeyLaboratory of Advanced Textile Composites, Ministry of Education,
Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China
(Received 5 July 2018; accepted 26 September 2018; published online 25 October 2018)

The composite modification is a method of modifying the surface of ultra high molec-
ular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric through the surface grafting, at the same
time the epoxy resin through ultrasonic and 3- amino propyl triethoxy silane (KH550),
and then using the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process to pre-
pare the composite. Explore the improvement of the interface between fiber and resin
so as to optimize the mechanical properties of the material. The modification effect, the
mechanism of action and the effect of different KH550 contents on the properties of the
composite were studied. Compared with the unmodified sample, When 1wt% KH550,
the maximum tensile load, tensile strength and the tensile fracture length increased by
13.83%, 20.19% and 51.27%, respectively, and the tensile modulus was reduced by
29.74%. The maximum bending stress and bending modulus of the 1wt% KH550 sam-
ple were increased by 104.57% and 190.97%, respectively. The displacement, which
is related to the maximum loading, the pressure and the tension area of the resin
decreased by 7.81%. The KH550 content had a substantial influence on the thermal
decomposition temperature of UHMWPE, and it had a small effect on the epoxy resin.
A KH550 content of 1wt% strengthened the bonds between the fibre and the resin,
such that the main failure mode of the pressure area was the hickies, and the tension
areas contained hickies and cracks. © 2018 Author(s). All article content, except where
otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5047083

I. INTRODUCTION
Epoxy resin matrix composites are widely used due to their desirable properties; the materials
are designed to be lightweight and have high strength and tensile modulus values. Epoxy resin is a
commonly used resin matrix composite that is adhesive and stable; however, for ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/epoxy resin matrix composites, the poor bonding between the resin
and the fibres is one of the biggest factors restricting its broader application. It is therefore necessary
to improve the bonding between the epoxy resin and the UHMWPE fibres to improve its mechanical
properties and applicability.1–10
At present, KH550 is widely used in research on modification. R Rajan11 etc. Modified epoxy
resin by KH550 to improve the tensile properties of warp knitted viscose fabric composites. The study
evaluates the efficiency of modification methods adopted to modify the epoxy resin and the influence
of the resin modification on various properties of the cured castings. The results show that the addition
of KH550 into the epoxy resin decreased the epoxide content in the resin. The tensile strength and
elongation at break of the viscose fabric composites prepared from modified resin, increased up to
14 %and 41%, respectively. The improved adhesion of KH550-modified epoxy resin to the viscose
fibre is confirmed from SEM analysis of tensile fracture surface.

a
Corresponding author: Rui Zhang, Tianjin Polytechnic University .E-mail address: 1298561171@qq.com

2158-3226/2018/8(10)/105325/15 8, 105325-1 © Author(s) 2018

105325-2 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

In the range of 2 to 14 kGy, Hoque M A12 etc. irradiates composite materials with different
gamma radiation doses. Findings The irradiated composites showed highest improved of mechanical
properties at the 10 kGy γ-radiation dose. After the γ-ray irradiation, both the γ-RJPC and γ-MBJPC
developed high degree of cross linking among the polyester molecules and thereto fabrics with the
consequence of significant changed of surface morphology as observed by AFM.
Luo13 etc, modified EP with the epoxy group aromatic structure skeleton of hyperbranched
polyester. The results showed that the curing of the modified mechanical properties and heat resistance
were increased, the improvement of heat resistance can be attributed to the higher the crosslinking
density of skeleton and hyperbranched polyester rigid aromatic structure. Yuan X et al14 utilized
polyacrylate to modify the matrix at the interface between the carbon fibres and the epoxy resin.
The content of activated carbon atoms increased from 12.65% to 24.7%, and the interlaminar shear
strength of the carbon fibre/epoxy resin increased 14.2%, which indicated a huge improvement in the
chemical activity and mechanical properties of the material.
Currently, most reports focus on diluting the preparation solutions or changing the operational
mechanics of the synthesis to modify an epoxy resin and only discuss a few of the variables that influ-
ence the properties of the resin or the composites.15–17 In those cases, usually the resins are modified
by actions such as adding a rubber or thermoplastic resin flexibilizer 18–22 or nanoparticles23–29 to the
mixture. This paper describes ultrasonication and direct addition methods of modification that do not
require organic solvents and can avoid edulcoration of the organic solution which can also influence
the properties of the epoxy resin. The mechanism, modification effects, and influence of different
3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) content on the bending property of UHMWPE/epoxy resin
were fully studied via the addition of KH550 to the epoxy resin. Finally, we determined the optimum
content of KH550 and discussed the relationship between the properties and morphologies of the
modified system.

II. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND METHODS

A. Experimental materials
Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers (UHMWPE, 45Tex, Shanghai ruisi polymer
technology company); n-heptane(Ding hai plastic chemical co., LTD); acetone; AM (Ding hai plastic
chemical co., LTD); M030-A GCC-135 epoxy resin (Kunshan green cycle electronic material co.,
LTD); GCC-137 curing agent (Kunshan green cycle electronic material co., LTD); KH550 (97%, Ding
hai plastic chemical co., LTD); Longxing LXC-252SCS flat knitting machine; Ultrasonic cleaner.

B. Modification of UHMWPE fabric

Woven knitted fabrics were successfully knitted on a computerized flat knitting machine. Table I
shows the fabric parameters. The fabric was soaked in n-heptane for 24 hours, extracted with acetone
for 4 hours, and dried at a constant temperature of 60 degrees. Then the sample was grafted in AM
solution. The initiator was two benzophenone (BP), the antioxidant 1010 (KO), the grafting time was
20 minutes, the light distance was 25 cm, and the light intensity was 86uw/cm2 .

C. Modification of EP
EP systems including an M030-A GCC-135 epoxy resin and a GCC-137 curing agent and the
modifier was KH550 (Fig. 1).
In a 45◦ C water bath, GCC-135 EP was mixed with 1 wt% KH550, and the mixture was stirred
for 180 s, and treated with ultrasonic waves (600W, 22KHz) for 120 minutes. The curing agent is

Table I. Fabric process parameters.

dimensional of fabric coursewise density walewise density

30cm × 30cm 46/5cm 39/5cm

105325-3 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 1. Ultrasonic processing device.

added in a ratio of 30:100 in the mass ratio of the curing agent and the epoxy resin, and the mixture
is stirred uniformly and then processed by ultrasonic waves for 180 s.
D. Preparation of composites
Such as Fig. 2 VARTM (vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding) was used to prepare the
composite materials. After curing at 25◦ C for 24 h and demoulding, the composite materials were
heated to 45◦ C for 12 h to solidify. Then, according to the above steps, UHMWPE reinforced epoxy
resin composites containing 1%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% KH550 were prepared to study the effect of
KH550 concentration on the properties of the composite modified composite materials.
E. Test and characterization
The tests were carried out according to GB/T 1447-2005 (the method used to test the tensile
properties of fibre-enhanced plastics)30 and GB/T 1449-2005 (the method used to test the bending
properties of fibre-enhanced plastics).31 Using INSTRON5969 universal strength tester, the sample

FIG. 2. The preparation of composite materials.

105325-4 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

sizes were set to 25 mm∗ 250 mm∗ 3.563 mm (±0.1 mm) and 15 mm∗ 80 mm∗ 3.563 mm (±0.1 mm), the
volume content of fibres is 41.16%(±1%), The stretched collet distance is 170mm, and the bending
span is 60mm, and the loading velocity is 2 mm/min. Five samples were used for each test. The
testing temperature was 25◦ C and the relative humidity was 60%.
Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the surface func-
tional groups and SEM was used to characterize the surface topography;Thermal Gravity (TG) and
Differential Thermal Gravity (DTG) were used to characterize the thermal stability of composites.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Fiber characterization
The purpose of the processing to make more surface hydroxyl active group, such as by the
fiber surface under FTIR (Fig. 3), SEM image (Fig. 4) and the contact angle text (Fig. 5), radiation
grafting grafted on the hydroxyl and other active group successfully, in this case, KH550 can react
with hydroxyl, on the other side can connect epoxy resin. Due to radiation, white crystals appear
on the surface of the fiber, and the degree of surface roughness increases that are conducive to the
bonding between the fiber and resin.

FIG. 3. The FTIR of UHMWPE before and after radiation.

FIG. 4. The SEM of UHMWPE before and after radiation.

105325-5 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 5. The contact angle of UHMWPE before and after radiation.

FIG. 6. Radiation grafting reaction of UHMWPE fibers. (Colored with cyan, red, and white are carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen
atoms, respectively.)

It can be seen from the FTIR of Fig. 3 that after the graft modification, vibration peaks appear
around 3360cm-1 and 1660cm-1 . This is due to the fact that the radiation grafting makes the fiber
successfully grafted with reactive groups such as hydroxyl groups. Radiation grafting reaction of
UHMWPE fibers is shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, due to radiation grafting, white
crystalline material appears on the surface of the fiber, the contact angle of the fiber is reduced, and
the surface roughness is increased, which will facilitate the bonding between the fiber and the resin.

B. Resin characterization
The FTIR spectra of the KH550, epoxy resin and epoxy resin after KH550 processing are shown
in Fig. 7. A strong water absorption band appears between 3145 cm−1 and 3715 cm−1 , which indicates
some of the material was hydrolysed after KH550 processing of the epoxy resin. The absorption peaks
of [—C—Si—] and [—Si—O—] appeared at 1392 cm−1 and 1072 cm−1 , respectively, and the band
at 910 cm−1 corresponding to the epoxy group disappears because of the increase in the intensity
of the NH2 stretching vibration, which indicates that the epoxy group has decomposed. These data
show that the chemical bond formation between the molecules of the coupling agent and the epoxy
resin was successful and led to shifts in the IR bands.
There are three-membered rings composed of carbon and oxygen atoms in the molecular structure
of epoxy resin, which have strong ring opening ability and special electron cloud distribution. These
rings make the epoxy group highly reactive. The molecular structure of KH550 contains primary
amine group. Primary amine group and epoxy group can react at room temperature. Secondary

FIG. 7. FTIR spectra of the KH550, epoxy resin and epoxy resin after KH550 processing.
105325-6 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 8. A is ring opening reaction of epoxy resin with KH550, and B is hydrolysis reaction of KH550. (Colored with cyan,
blue, red, yellow, and white are carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and hydrogen atoms, respectively.)

amine group is formed when KH550 reacts with epoxy resin. Chu Jiurong’s32 research shows that
the secondary amine group produced by the reaction of secondary amine with epoxy ring does not
participate in the epoxy ring opening reaction, but need to react at higher temperature. Therefore, the
reaction mechanism is shown in Fig. 8 (A), and Fig. 8 (B) is the hydrolysis reaction of KH550. When
KH550 is coupled, -OC2 H5 is hydrolyzed to form silyl alcohol group, which will further react with
hydroxyl group of UHMWPE fiber.

FIG. 9. TG and DTG of the composites.

105325-7 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

C. Composite characterization
Fig. 9 shows the TG and DTG curves of the composites. The initial decomposition temperature
seen in the TG curve is 146 ◦ C, and the temperature with the fastest rate of decomposition is 150 ◦ C.
Decomposition is the process by which 97% of the mass of the material is lost. The first peaks in
the DTG spectra are sharp, which indicates that the rate of UHMWPE fibre decomposition suddenly
increased once it reached the decomposition temperature. The thermal decomposition temperature of
the UHMWPE fibre increased by approximately 14.28%, but the temperature producing the fastest
decomposition rate changed very little after ultrasonication and KH550 modification. The pyrolysis
temperature of the epoxy resin pyrolysis did not noticeably change.
D. Tensile properties of composite materials
Fig. 10 shows the tensile properties of the five composite laminates including untreated, treat with
1% KH550 (ultrasonication+1wt%), 2% KH550 (ultrasonication+2 wt%), 2.5% KH550 (ultrasoni-
cation+2.5 wt%), and 3% KH550 (ultrasonication+3 wt%). The maximum load, maximum tensile
strength, maximum tensile fracture displacement, and minimum tensile modulus were all achieved
at a KOH550 addition of 1 wt%. In this case, compared to the sample without KH550, the maximum
tensile load, maximum tensile strength and maximum tensile fracture length increased by 13.83%,
20.19% and 51.27%, respectively, and the tensile modulus was reduced by 29.74%. This is to say
that after modification, the strength of the composite material becomes greater and the toughness
becomes stronger. It was found that the composite material had the best performance when KH550
was added at 1%.
The reason is that the molecular structure of KH550 includes two different groups, namely,
-OC2 H5 , hydrolyzed to silanol group, reacts with hydroxyl groups on the surface of the modified
fibers to form hydrogen bonds and condenses to form -SiO-M covalent bonds (M is the surface of
the fibers), and -NH2 , reacts with epoxy resin as shown in Fig. 8(A). Briefly, the KH550 coupling at

FIG. 10. Comparisons of the maximum load, tensile modulus, tensile strength, and tensile fracture displacement with different
amounts of KH550 additive.
105325-8 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 11. Interaction diagram of coupling agent KH550 at interface, A is UHMWPE fiber, B is curing agent. (These balls
colored with cyan, blue, red, yellow, and white are carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and hydrogen atoms, respectively.)

the interface of the composite has one side that has an affinity for UHMWPE, and the other side has
an affinity for the resin surface. These two faces mean that KH550 can connect with the materials
on different sides and act like a molecular bridge, which would increase the interfacial adhesion, as
shown in Fig. 11. However, when the content of KH550 is too low, it cannot bind to the UHMWPE
and the resin as strongly, and the adhesion will be weaker. When the content of KH550 is too high,
one side of KH550 will hydrolyse some of the low molecular weight material, which moderately
increases the porosity and influences the binding between the fibres and the resin. Therefore, the
adhesion force must reach a maximum with the addition of a particular amount of KH550. when the
content of KH550 is 1 wt%, the best coupling effect is achieved.
The five tensile stress-strain curves are shown in Fig. 15 and have similar sets of features. (1) The
initial portions of the curve are linear, and the curves appear parabolic when the samples are under
increasing tensile loads. When the load exceeds the maximum strength of the sample, the curve
becomes almost vertical. This is because weft knit fabrics are formed by coils and coils in series
with each other. The longitudinal and transverse directions of the yarn are all curved and the fiber
orientation is low. During the tensile test, with the increase of the tensile load, the matrix resin and
the reinforcement of the knitted fabric are not simultaneously broken. (2) The major components
affecting the tensile strength, shown in Fig. 12, can be roughly divided into three stages or regions
of the curve. In area A, the resin and fiber are mainly subjected to stress, and the growth rate is
relatively obvious. Composite efflorescence phenomena appear near region A and are a sign of the

FIG. 12. Stress - strain curve of tensile failure.

105325-9 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 13. The “V” fold point before the tensile fracture.

failure of the resin and the beginning of region B. In region B, the main force that holds the material
together is the bonding between the fibres and resins, but at this time the fibers are being pulled
out of the resin. The modifications made in this study were to optimize performance of region B.
Region C is “V” type, in which the fold point is the location of fibre fracture, and the majority of the
stress-strain curve after the “V” fold point, up until the drop off, is similar to the curve before the “V”
fold point. The cut-off point of between region A and region B is the failure of the resin; the cut-off
point between region B and region C is the fibre pulling away from the resin completely. As shown
in Fig. 13, the “V” type fold point is due to the elongation at the break of the resin and the fibre;
the elongation at break of the UHMWPE fibre was 2.56%, and that of the resin was 9%. However,
due to the tensile deformation of the loop structure of the knitted fabric, there is a “different time”
during the break, and the yarn in the composite material is not broken at the same time (Fig. 14) and
the composite material is destroyed layer by layer. Therefore, there will be saw-tooth fluctuations in
the C area. (3) The five stress-strain curves of the composite materials almost overlap in region A;
however, The most important difference in the size of the stress is mainly in the area B, that is, the

FIG. 14. A fractured fibre by scanning microscopy (SEM).

105325-10 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 15. Stress-strain curve of samples with electron different amounts of KH550.

adhesion between the fiber and the resin. The tensile stress of the 1 wt% KH550 is the greatest and
that of the 0 wt% KH550 sample is the smallest. The fracture surface of the fiber shows an irregular
fracture layer (Fig.14) and its own elongation at break, so it can be judged that the tensile fracture
mode is ductile fracture, and the tensile properties of the composite material are improved by the
modification process.
During the tensile tests, the samples intermittently became fragile as the tensile load on the resin
increased. This fragility was due to the destruction of the weakness defects in the resin, and it was
accompanied by the appearance of a white powder. The sample surfaces appeared bleached, and they
began to split due to weakness in the resin on both sides; splitting and bleaching are signs of resin
failure. Because the weaknesses in the resins are not qualitative, the crack locations and quantity
are not fixed for each side (Fig. 16). Comparing and analysing the fractured resins showed that
the tensile specimens have the different angles of oblique fractures. One reason for this is that with
continuous tensile stress, the stress area is smaller, which causes the remaining stress-related changes.
Another reason is that the UHMWPE fibres fracture in a ductile manner. Gradually, as the tensile
load increases, both sides will fail towards the centre of the specimen. Each side will show a different
degree of stratification (Fig. 17) because of micro-bending in the fibre during elongation. Whether
the interlaminar fracturing began in the resin or in the resin with 1 wt% sample is not obvious;
other samples showed different degrees of interlayer fracturing, with the 0 wt% being especially
obvious. KH550 can be used to effectively modify the epoxy resin to increase the bonding between
the fibre and the epoxide, thus improving composite interlayer fracture phenomena. The fibres of the
samples all fracture when the strain applied to the sample is between 20% and 30% (1 wt% fractures
at 44%).
SEM micrographs of the fibres show that the surface of the fibres adheres to the epoxy resin to a
certain extent (Fig. 18). The sample prepared with 1 wt% KH550 shows the strongest adhesion, and
the resin adhesion to the surface of the fibres in the 0 wt% KH550 sample was the weakest.

FIG. 16. Destruction of different proportions composites after modified resin matrix (A-ultrasonic+0wt%, B-ultrasonic
+1wt%, C-ultrasonic+2wt%, D-ultrasonic+2.5wt%, E-ultrasonic+3wt%).
105325-11 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 17. Lateral view of different proportions (A-ultrasonic+0wt%, B-ultrasonic+1wt%, C-ultrasonic+2wt%, D-ultrasonic
+2.5wt%, E-ultrasonic+3wt%).

FIG. 18. Composite material tensile test SEM image of extracted fiber (A-ultrasonic+0wt%, B-ultrasonic+1wt%,
C-ultrasonic+2wt%, D-ultrasonic+2.5wt%, E-ultrasonic+3wt%).

Although the FTIR data shows that the peak value of each position is decreasing, it is gradually
apparent from 1000 to 3300 with the increase of KH550 content. It can be seen that:When the
concentration exceeds 1wt%, the residual KH550 in the sample begins to appear, and the amount of
KH550 added increases from 0wt% to 1wt%. At this time, the coupling agent on the fiber surface
gradually increases to a more adherent state, but with KH550 content from 3wt% The comparison of
the adhesion state of the coupling agent to the fiber surface decreased to 1 wt%, and the other small
variation peaks may be caused by different UHMWPE and EP in the sample distribution (Fig. 19).
Therefore, the coupling agent KH550 effectively improves the cohesion between the resin and the
fiber.
E. Bending properties of composite materials
Fig. 20 shows the bending properties of the five different composite laminates, including the
untreated sample and those treated with 1% KH550, 2% KH550, 2.5% KH550 and 3% KH550. It can
be seen from the figure that with the increase of the KH550 concentration, the maximum bending force
and flexural modulus of the composite increase first and then decrease, and reaches the maximum
when the KH550 concentration is 1 wt%. The displacement corresponding to the maximum load
decreases first and then increases with the increase of the concentration, and reaches a minimum at

FIG. 19. FTIR spectra of five different concentrations of KH550 modified composites.
105325-12 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 20. The effects on the maximum load, flexural modulus, corresponding deflection of maximum load, damage area of
tensile and pressure side of resin from the incorporation of different contents of KH550.

a concentration of 1 wt%. The front and back surfaces of the composite material were under tension
and compression and the damaged area was minimized when the added concentration was 1 wt%.The
maximum bending stress and bending modulus increased by 104.57% and 190.97%, respectively, and
the displacement due to the maximum load decreased by 7.81%.It can be seen that the mechanical
properties of the KH550-modified epoxy resin are significantly increased, and the addition of KH550
at 1 wt% is the peak area. The reason is that the molecular structure of the coupling agent KH 550
contains two groups that are different from the inorganic group -OC2 H5 and the organophilic group
-NH2 , and the reason is consistent with the analysis in the tensile test (Fig. 11).
The stress-deflection curves of the composites are smooth (Fig. 21). This means that after treat-
ment with different amounts of KH550, the maximum bending stress of the composites increased by
47%-104% over that of the sample prepared without KH550, which indicates there is a maximum
bending stress for these materials. When loading is low, the deformation of the fibres and resin is
elastic, and the bending mode and the displacement mode are linearly related, which means that if the
load on the sample is removed, it will return to its original form. With increased loadings, a yield phe-
nomenon is observed in the resin matrix. When the load causes the resin to reach its breaking point,
cracks in the matrix expand and form new cracks; therefore, the load-displacement curve becomes
nonlinear, which leads to a decrease in stiffness. Because the cracks keep expanding and new cracks
keep forming, parts of the load-displacement curve decrease by a small amount. The fibres in the
reinforcement part of the sample start to break when the deformation of the sample increases, and
this results in the loading ability of the sample decreasing until the yarn breaks irreversibly.
The micrographs in Fig. 22, Fig. 23, and Fig. 24 show the morphology of the failure planes of
the samples prepared with 0, 1, 2, 2.5, and 3wt% KH550 and the untreated sample. The micrographs
show a side view of the application of pressure, a side view of the applied tension side, and the flank of
the samples in order. The main characteristics of the samples under pressure are hickies and arching
105325-13 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

FIG. 21. Stress-strain curves of samples prepared using of different amounts of KH550.

with no obvious cracks; the characteristics of tension from the side are the emergence of hickies and
cracks, the breakage of a few fibres (there were no cracks in the 1 wt% sample). The same situation
occurs on the flank, except the samples are full of hickies and cracks, and stratifications were visible
in the 0 wt% sample.
In the bending experiment, the pressure is close to the point of contact, and the surrounding
composite can contain the damage within the samples. The resin matrix on this side compressively
yielded and lost the constraint of the yarns, which caused the formation of an arch under compression.
Because the strength of the resin is far lower than that of the UHMWPE fibres, the resin appears

FIG. 22. Pressure being applied to samples prepared with different amounts of KH550 (side view). (A) untreated, (B)
ultrasonication+0 wt%, (C) ultrasonication+1 wt%, (D) ultrasonication+2 wt%, (E) ultrasonication+2.5 wt%, and (F)
ultrasonication+3 wt%.

FIG. 23. Tension being applied to samples prepared with different amounts of KH550 (side view). (A) untreated, (B)
ultrasonication+0 wt%, (C) ultrasonication+1 wt%, (D) ultrasonication+2 wt%, (E) ultrasonication+2.5 wt%, and (F)
ultrasonication+3 wt%.

FIG. 24. Flank of samples prepared with different amounts of KH550. (A) untreated, (B) ultrasonication+0 wt%, (C)
ultrasonication+1 wt%, (D) ultrasonication+2 wt%, (E) ultrasonication+ 2.5 wt%, and (F) ultrasonication+3 wt%.
105325-14 Li et al. AIP Advances 8, 105325 (2018)

fragile and cracks. Most cracks are concentrated between the fibres of the yarns and cause the
hickies in the samples under compression. As shown in the previous figures, pressure applied to the
UHMWPE/epoxy resin composites mainly results in hickies but also results in cracks, which indicates
the materials are very tough. Moreover, the arch of the yarns would accelerate the destruction of the
resin matrix, and it can even separate the layers away from the rest of the sample. Inside the samples,
the spatial orientation of the fibres is usually different from the direction of loading, which makes
the yarn rotate or shift under the load. This shifted or displacement of the yarn fibres would produce
shear or extrusion effect on the resin matrix and ultimately lead to the formation of cracks. As the load
increases, the cracks keep growing in a zig-zag pattern. The face away from the point of contact is on
the tension side; however, the yarn and resin matrix carries the tension load. The hickies and cracks,
concentrated in the coils, would expand crosswise on this face as well as lengthways and throughout
the thickness of the sample. To briefly summarize the process of efficiency loss, the UHMWPE/epoxy
resin composites sustained three main types of loading, namely, tension outside, compression inside
and shear deformation between the laminates. Furthermore, the main damage sustained as the loading
increased consisted of cracks, and the tensile stress outside resulted in rupture strain, which caused
the efficiency losses in the samples. As expected, only a few hickies are formed on the compression
face of the sample prepared with 1 wt% KH550, and almost no cracks appear on its other sides,
which indicates its substantial toughness and interlaminate fracture resistance. Therefore, to achieve
the optimum bending properties, a composite prepared using 1wt% KH550 is the best choice.

IV. CONCLUSION
1. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane can produce a bridge-like structure between the epoxy resin
and the fibres, which can effectively improve the bending properties of the epoxy resin-based
composites.
2. The amount of KH550 added to the system has a substantial impact on the bending properties of
the composites. The composite prepared with 1 wt% KH550 has the optimum bending properties.
The maximum bending stress and modulus of the 1 wt% KH550 are 104.57% and 190.97%
higher, respectively, than those of the untreated samples. The displacement, which is related to
the maximum loading, decreased by 7.81%, and the compression and tension area of the resin
decreased by 27.78% and 17.14%, respectively. The maximum tensile load, tensile strength and
tensile fracture length of the UHMWPE/epoxy resin-based weft knitted composite increased
by 13.83%, 13.83% and 20.19%, respectively, and the tensile modulus decreased by 29.74%
compared with that of the unmodified sample.
3. The damage on the compressive face of the UHMWPE/epoxy resin composites was mainly in
the form of hickies, and the damage on the tensile and side face was in the form of hickies and
cracks. When the KH550 content was 1wt%, there were almost no cracks.
4. Using KH550 to modify the resin can improve the adhesive force between the fibres and the
resin. It improves the toughness and interlaminate fracture phenomena of the composites and
thus also enhances the bending properties. The amount of KH550 coupling agent added to the
composite material has a great effect on the bond between the fibre and the resin; the addition
of 1 wt% KH550 is the best choice in most cases.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(51403154;11602168).
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