Vibration damping and interfacial adhesion behavior of steel-UHMWPE composite structures

Hybrid structures combining steel and polymer layers are widely used in engineering systems where vibration reduction and mechanical durability are required. In this study, a composite structure consisting of a low-carbon steel substrate and an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) coating was investigated in terms of vibration damping capacity, adhesion strength, and thermal behavior. The UHMWPE coating was applied to the steel surface through a thermal pressing technique under optimized temperature and pressure conditions. The vibration damping performance was analyzed using a modal analysis method and accelerometer-based measurements within the frequency range of 100-1000 Hz. Interfacial adhesion was evaluated via shear and peel tests according to ASTM D1002 standards. Results show that the steel-UHMWPE composite exhibits up to 35-40 % improvement in damping ratio compared to bare steel specimens. The optimal adhesion strength was achieved at a processing temperature of 190 ℃, where the interfacial energy balance between the polymer and steel substrate minimizes delamination. Thermal stability analysis using DSC and TGA confirmed the material’s operational range up to 120 ℃, making it suitable for automotive and mechanical vibration isolation applications. These findings demonstrate that the combination of steel’s stiffness and UHMWPE’s viscoelastic damping behavior offers a promising approach to lightweight vibration control components. Further optimization of interface modification and filler reinforcement is planned to enhance tribological and thermal resistance properties.