The influence of processing conditions on the mechanical properties of poly(aryl‐ether‐ketone)/polybenzimidazole blends

Abstract

Interest in developing high-performance blends for niche applications has grown significantly in efforts to meet everincreasing harsh environment demands. In this work, four model poly(aryl-ether-ketone)/polybenzimidazole (PAEK/PBI) blends were chosen to study the influence of premixing methods, processing, and matrix polymers, on their mechanical properties. Among the model poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and PBI blends, mechanical properties are greatly enhanced by melt premixing. The molding process mainly affects the matrix crystallinity, which in turn greatly influences fracture toughness of the blend. Poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK) and PBI blend exhibits a slightly lower tensile strength and fracture toughness than PEEK/PBI due to the differences in inherent properties of PEEK and PEKK matrices and their interfacial interaction with PBI. The processing−structure-property relationship of PAEK/PBI blends is established to help guide optimal design of high-performance polymer blends for structural applications.

Nanomechanical study of polycarbonate/boehmite nanoparticles/epoxy ternary composite and their interphases

“…Such studies have also shown the great influence that the polymer interphase can play in the overall mechanical properties. Jiang, Z. et al proved recently, by PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (AFM PF‐QNM) measurements, how the processing conditions of an immiscible PEEK/PBI blend affect the Young's modulus across the interphase and ultimately the fracture toughness of the blend 20 . The same technique has also proven to be successful for the detection of an enhanced interphase modulus in poly vinyl alcohol/nanodiameter 21 …”

Well‐dispersed poly(ether‐ether‐ketone)/multi‐walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites prepared via a simple solution mixing approach

“…Specimens (about 5 mg) were cut from regions away from the surface of the bulk samples. A typical three‐scan characterization was conducted under N 2 purge protection (50 mL min −1 ): (i) heating from 100 to 400 °C with a rate of 20 °C min −1 , (ii) cooling from 400 to 100 °C with a rate of 20 °C min −1 after being isothermally equilibrated at 400 °C for 10 min, which was shown to be adequate to remove thermal history effect, 17 and (iii) heating from 100 to 400 °C with a rate of 20 °C min −1 after being isothermally treated at 100 °C for 10 min.…”

Well‐dispersed poly(ether‐ether‐ketone)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite for harsh environment applications

“…18 Under hot-wet condition, absorption of such a substantial amount of mobile water molecules in PBI phase would weaken the PBI phase, reducing its glass transition temperature (T g ) and increasing chain mobility. 19 Considering the intermixing of PEEK and PBI chains at their interface, 1 PEEK polymer chains at the interface would also be mobilized to some extent by its surroundings. Since the PEEK and PBI blend is at 50:50 wt% ratio, the interfacial region would strongly influence their stress relaxation behavior.…”

“…For example, blends of PEEK with polybenzimidazole (PBI) to combine the processability of PEEK and superior thermal mechanical properties of PBI. 1 However, PBI absorbs substantial amounts of water (>10 wt% at room temperature) which limits its applications in harsh aqueous environments. 2,3 Yuan et al, studied the hotwet environment resistance of PEEK composites reinforced by different types of fibers.…”