• Parpaite, Thibault

Abstract

The incorporation of an elastomer phase into a PEEK matrix was carried out using two different processing methods (melt-blending and dry-blending) in order to improve the damping factor of the composite with a minimal change of the PEEK stiffness. A crosslinked fluoroelastomer (CFE) was carefully chosen according to its high glass transition temperature, high thermal stability and high modulus. The blends were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), modified Oberst test, flexural test and pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC). According to SEM micrographs, an original well-dispersed PEEK-elastomer composite was obtained. The damping factor of the materials was evaluated using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and modified Oberst test. Both techniques indicate that the incorporation of 5 to 20 wt% of CFE fine powders only slightly increased the damping factor of the material. Moreover a decrease of flexural modulus and thermal stability of the blends was detected when increasing the CFE content. Even if the properties are not yet significantly improved, it was well ascribed that the melt-blending method was suitable to mix elastomer particles within a PEEK matrix. Poor interfacial adhesion has been identified as the main key parameter which should be improved in further work.

Topics

• pyrolysis
• scanning electron microscopy
• melt
• glass
• glass
• composite
• thermal analysis
• combustion
• glass transition temperature
• bending flexural test
• interfacial
• ketone
• elastomer