The carbon fiber/hydroxyapatite (CF/HA) reinforcement
with a three-dimensional
flower-like structure was rapidly fabricated with the biomimetic mineralization
method to strengthen the interfacial performance and bioactivity of
carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) composites. Silk fibroin
(SF), which can construct a robust interphase between CF and PEEK,
supported an organic template to regulate the growth of inorganic
HA. The interfacial properties were markedly enhanced through mechanical
interlocking and interface adhesion induced by increasing roughness
and surface energy of CF. Besides, the mineralization time was significantly
reduced after the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to the
simulated body fluid, and the prepared CF/HA possessed good bioactivity.
In this study, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and flexural
strength of CF-HA/45/PEEK composites demonstrated an enhancement of
45.9% and 51.2%, respectively, compared to the untreated CF/PEEK composites.
It is predicted that this strategy could provide a rapid and convenient
route to ameliorate the interfacial performance and bioactivity of
CF/PEEK composites simultaneously.