Poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic polymer with potential for use in a variety of metal replacement applications due to its high strength to weight ratio. This combination of properties makes it an ideal material for use in the production of bespoke replacement parts for out-of-earth manufacturing purposes, in particular on the International Space Station (ISS). Additive manufacturing (AM) may be employed for the production of these parts, as it has enabled new fabrication pathways for articles with complex design considerations. However, AM of PEEK via fused filament fabrication (FFF) encounters significant challenges, mostly stemming from the semi crystalline nature of PEEK and its associated high melting temperature. This makes PEEK highly susceptible to changes in processing conditions which leads to a large reported variation in the literature on the final performance of PEEK. This has limited the adaption of FFF printing of PEEK in space applications where quality assurance and reproducibility are paramount. In recent years, several research studies have examined the effect of printing parameters on the performance of the 3D-printed PEEK parts. The aim of the current review is to provide comprehensive information in relation to the process-structure-property relationships in FFF 3D-printing of PEEK to provide a clear baseline to the research community and assesses its potential for space applications, including out-of-earth manufacturing.

In this study, compatibilized PP/PVB blends were prepared and their morphological, dynamic mechanical, rheological and Izod impact strength properties were investigated.

Polyetheramine (PEA)-modified epoxies with various types of PEAs were prepared and respective effects on characteristics of epoxy networks were studied. The used PEAs were polyethylene glycol diamine (PEG-amine) and polypropylene glycol diamine (PPGamine) with two different molecular weights (i.e., 200 and 400 g mol −1 ). According to mechanical tests, the structural parameters of PEAs played an important role in final properties of epoxy/amine systems. PEG 400 -amine and PPG 200 -amine had the highest and lowest effects on the properties of epoxy networks, respectively. Whereas 10 phr PEG 400 -amine increased critical stress intensity factor (K IC ) and critical strain energy release rate (G IC ) of the epoxy up to 82 and 294%, the same number of PPG 200 -amine chains caused to increase the K IC and G IC up to 11 and 34%. This discrepancy could be assigned to higher flexibility index (φ = 26.22), longer chain length (~27 atoms), and higher secondary interactions [δ = 9.69 (cal cm −3 ) 0.5 ] of PEG 400 -amine in comparison with PPG 200 -amine [with φ = 8.08,~10 atoms in chain, and δ = 8.98 (cal cm −3 ) 0.5 ]. Shear yielding as a toughening mechanism was proposed based on microscopy of the crack tips. These in-depth studies could uncover underlying structure-property relationships in a relevant class of PEA-like modifiers, shedding light on the future design of top-performing homogeneous tough polymer networks.

Composites of polyvinylchloride (PVC) with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by plastisol curing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that appropriate dispersion of the nanotubes was achieved. The mechanical properties showed that SWCNT improved the Young's modulus and tensile strength of the PVC. The composites have higher elongation at break and toughness as well. By comparing the mechanical properties of the composites, it is found that there is a critical SWCNT loading (about 1 wt%) below which the tensile properties increase with increasing nanofiller concentration. For the composites containing 0.25–0.75 wt% of SWCNT, this situation was observed, whereas for a sample with 1 wt% SWCNT, the mechanical properties decreased due to the agglomeration of the nanotubes. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the SWCNT increased T5%, T10%, T50%, Tonset, and Tmax and decreased weight loss in the degradation process of the PVC. In addition, by adding SWCNT to the polymer, residual mass at 600°C increased significantly. These results are advantages for the applications of the polymer in which high mechanical properties, including high tensile modulus and toughness, and good thermal properties are needed. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:128–133, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers

PA-6/PVB blends and related nanocomposites with organoclay were prepared via melt-processing and structure-property relationships were comprehensively investigated. The SEM observations showed that blend composition and organoclay content play significant roles in the development of morphology. The differential scanning calorimetry results revealed occurrence of fractionated crystallization in the blends due to development of co-continuous morphology. In contrast, the degree of fractionated crystallization decreased in the nanocomposites owing to role of the nanoclay as heterogeneous nucleating agent. It was found that there is an interesting relationship between morphology development and dynamic mechanical properties of the blends. Furthermore, the effects of the morphology development and nanoclay on the viscoelastic behavior of the nanocomposites were synergistic and/or counteracting depending on the Cloisite 30B content. The PA-6/PVB blends with co-continuous morphology showed outstanding toughness. In addition, the PA-6/PVB50 blend with low nanoclay concentration exhibited high impact strength, which was originated from low interparticle distance between PVB domains in the matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 00:000-000, 2017.

In this study, to investigate the effect of functionalized carbon nanotubes on the thermal and mechanical properties of the poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) resin, PVB/functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (f-SWCNT) composites were fabricated by a solution casting method. The functionalized nanotubes were prepared by acid treatment. The formation of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of the nanotubes was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. SEM analysis also showed that the nanotubes were dispersed well in the PVB matrix. The thermal stability of the composites were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis, and the results show better stability for PVB in the presence of a very low content of the f-SWCNTs. The prepared composites exhibited a significant increase in the temperature of degradation at 50 wt % loss and also in the onset temperature and decomposition temperature at the maximum rate of weight loss of butyral degradation. A significant enhancement in the mechanical properties was also achieved for these prepared composites.

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