Polyetheretherketone (PEEK): Processing‐structure and properties studies for a matrix in high performance composites

摘要

AbstractThe processing, structure and properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) semicrystalline thermoplastic as matrix polymer for high performance composites has been investigated in this work. In processing PEEK samples with different crystallinities, a specially designed mold capable of cooling the polymer in excess of 115°C/s from its melt temperature was constructed. In addition, during processing studies, a reaction of PEEK in the presence of copper was discovered. Analysis of the samples in terms of their crystallinity values also provided a new method for measuring crystallinity of the matrix in the composite. Crystallization of low crystalline samples at room temperature in the presence of methylene chloride was also confirmed for the first time with polarized microscopy. However, at the same time, the excellent hygrothermal resistance of PEEK was also confirmed. Finally, dynamic mechanical and stress‐strain experiments with samples of different crystallinities elucidated the dependence of these properties to crystallinity. However, this study also elucidated that under normal processing conditions for high performance composites, PEEK properties may not be strongly affected by different levels of crystallini