Mechanical and thermal properties of poly-ether ether ketone reinforced with CaCO3

CaCO3/PEEK (poly-ether ether ketone) composites were prepared on a twin-screw extruder with different mass ratio of CaCO3/PEEK from 0% to 30%. Four types of particles were used as filler in PEEK matrix. The influence of surface treatment with sulfonated PEEK (SPEEK) of the particles on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites was studied. The experiments included tensile tests, flexural tests, notched Izod impact tests, TGA, DSC and SEM. The modulus and yield stress of the composites increased with CaCO3 particles loadings. This increase was attributed to the bonding between the particles and the PEEK matrix, as can be proved by the SEM pictures of tensile fracture surface of the composites. The impact strength of the composites was modified by the SPEEK coated on the CaCO3 particle surface. DSC experiments showed that the particle content and surface properties influenced the glass transition temperature (T-g) and melting temperature (T-m) of the composites. The T-g increased with the content of fillers while T-m decreased. In this study the fillers treated were found to give better combination properties, which indicated that SPEEK played a constructive role in the CaCO3/PEEK composites. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.