Effects of fluoropolymer addition to an epoxy on scratch depth and recovery

Samples were prepared by addition of a fluorinated poly(aryl ether ketone) (12F-PEK) to a commercial epoxy resin and curing at either 24 degreesC or 70 degreesC. The concentrations of fluoropolymer in the samples were 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. Phase inversion facilitates the formation of more and more smooth surfaces for scratch testing with increasing fluoropolymer concentration. A progressively increasing load from 0.03 N to 12 N was administered with a diamond tip to the surfaces of the samples; depths were determined within +/-7.5 nm. The original scratch depth is a function of the fluoropolymer concentration. Scratch recovery (healing) reaches values up to 95%. Plots of the residual depth versus concentration of the fluoropolymer at 4, 6, 8, and 10 N reveal minima for all forces and both temperatures. Addition of only 5% or 10% 12F-PEK improves the scratch recovery significantly. The results are explained by changes of material morphology with the fluoropolymer concentration.