Silicone Powder Modified UHMWPE: Enhanced Processing Performance and Optimized Melt Spinning

ABSTRACT Due to the lack of melt processability in ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the melt spinning technology of UHMWPE has yet to be industrialized. This study employed a melt blending technique, using silicone powder as a flow aid. The melt processing performance of silicone powder‐modified UHMWPE pellet materials was systematically analyzed through torque measurements and rheological property tests. Additionally, the impact of silicone powder on the surface energy of UHMWPE was evaluated. The influence of silicone powder and hot drawing processes on the mechanical properties of UHMWPE melt‐spun monofilaments was further analyzed through tensile strength testing, creep behavior analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the addition of silicone powder significantly improves the melt flowability and extrusion stability of UHMWPE, with a slight increase in its surface energy. Under extrusion conditions of 270°C and a screw speed of 5 rpm, silicone powder‐modified UHMWPE can be continuously extruded into as‐spun filaments, with molecular chains oriented along the drawing direction during the hot drawing process, thereby enhancing the creep resistance of the monofilaments. When the silicone powder content is 3 wt% and the draw ratio is 36, the tensile strength of the modified UHMWPE monofilament reaches 1565.21 MPa.