Effects of Solvent Exposures on Poly(Etheretherketone) (PEEK) And PEEK-Fiberglass Composites

摘要

Specimens of PEEK and PEEK-fiberglass (FG) were exposed to a number of solvents, and, after removal of the solvents, were tested for changes in weight, tensile strength, and thermal/chemical properties. Solvents tested included: Alconox/water, ethanol, trichloroethylene, ethylene glycol, toluene, Freon TF, silicone oil, and dilute (15%) NaOH and H sub 2 SO sub 4 solutions. Expposures were for five days at temperatures up to 80 deg C. The only significant decreases in tensile strength after solvent exposure occurred with the dilute NaOH-exposed PEEK-FG specimens. Several samples showed minor weight changes. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the ability of the solvent-exposed PEEK or PEEK-FG recrystallize was not affected, except in concentrated H sub 2 S sub 4 (greater than or equal to65 wt %) solutions. Similarly, infrared (ir) spectroscopic analyses showed no changes in solvent-exposed PEEK or PEEK-FG, except in greater than or equal to85% H sub 2 SO sub 4 , where minor changes in the ir spectrum were observed. Examination of the glass transition (Tg) region of concentrated (65%) H sub 2 SO sub 4 -exposed PEEK, the dilute NaOH-exposed PEEK-FG, and the dilute H sub 2 SO sub 4 -exposed PEEK-FG by thermomechanical and dynamic mechanical analyses showed no significant differences from unexposed controls. Similar results were obtained for alcohol- and trichloroethylene-exposed PEEK specimens. 7 figs., 9 tabs. (ERA citation 12:011719)