Preparation of Glass Fiber/Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) Composite Foam with Improved Compressive Strength and Heat Resistance

Abstract

Glass fiber/poly(ether ether ketone) (GF/PEEK) composite foams with improved compressive strength and heat resistance can be successfully prepared using a simple and environmentally friendly supercritical carbon dioxide (sc‐CO2) foaming technology. The cell morphologies of the foams can be controlled by adjusting the GF content and foaming parameters, including the saturation temperature, saturation time, saturation pressure, and depressurization rate. With a foam density of 0.55 g cm−3, the PEEK‐based composite foam having 30% GF content has a 10% compressive strength of 11.07 MPa, and its density varies negligibly up to 330.0 °C. The GF/PEEK composite foams having high GF contents show significantly better properties than those having low GF contents as a result of the supporting and strengthening effect of the GF in the PEEK cell walls. The GF/PEEK composite foams also show good corrosion resistance. As a result of these properties, the GF/PEEK composite foams are promising high‐performance materials for use in extreme environments.

Solid-state foaming of poly(ether-ether-ketone)/hydroxyapatite composites

“…The low stiffness of the foamed PEEK/HA samples could be due to two reasons. First, the stiffness of porous PEEK structure is generally in the range of 20-200 MPa, 11,21,25,26 depending on the porosity. The porous PEEK/HA structure reported in this work has a similar stiffness compared to those with the salt leaching method, which was about 50 MPa.…”

“…High toughness and excellent thermal insulation properties were achieved; however, the filaments were foamed during the extrusion process, with limited control on the pore size. Liang et al 21 used a rapid depressurization method to foam a mixture of PEEK and glass fiber and achieved high expansion ratio with good mechanical properties. However, the method requires a rapid release of high pressure at a high temperature, putting strenuous stresses on the equipment.…”