TITLE:
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Composites Reinforced with Fly Ash and Mica
AUTHORS:
M. Rahail Parvaiz, Smita Mohanty, Sanjay K. Nayak, P. A. Mahanwar
KEYWORDS:
Polymer matrix composites, Fillers, Fly ash, Mica, SEM
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.9 No.1,
January
20,
2010
ABSTRACT: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites were developed using fly ash and mica as fillers.
PEEK composites of 5-30 wt% loading were compounded using twin screw extruder. Tensile
strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus increased with the incorporation of both the
fillers in PEEK matrix. Tensile modulus of PEEK fly ash composites was found to be higher than
PEEK mica composites. Charpy impact strength of PEEK mica composites improved drastically
up to 15 wt% of filler but in PEEK fly ash composites charpy impact strength was decreased.
The effect of fly ash and mica on the percentage crystallinity of PEEK composites was studied by
using modulated differential scanning calorimeter (MDSC). Limiting oxygen index (LOI) of
PEEK fly ash and mica composites also improved by 11% and 24% respectively than pure PEEK
at 30 wt% loading respectively. The dynamic modulus of PEEK composites shows over 133%
increment at 100-250 °C, indicating improvement of elevated temperature mechanical
properties. Effects of filler on the morphology of PEEK composites have also been discussed.