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Sulfonated peek fiber reinforced composites for increased thermal and mechanical properties
Gurung, Dinesh
Gurung, Dinesh
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2023-05
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Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a special set of thermoplastic polymers that possess fascinating mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties for various industries, such as aircraft, biomedical, automotive, satellite, energy, and defense. Recently, sulfonated PEEK (SPEEK)-based fiber-reinforced composites have been designed and fabricated for the same purposes. However, manufacturing PEEK fiber composites is considerably difficult because of the inertness and high melting point of PEEK; thus, the sulfonation process is a necessary step to make the PEEK composites in many cases. About 5 wt% PEEK powder was initially dried for 24 hours at 100°C and then sulfonated in a 98% sulfuric acid solution for 12 hours at 65°C while continuously stirring in a closed glass beaker. The precipitation was performed afterward using the water bath technique by pouring the PEEK/acid solution into the cold water to make the SPEEK polymer. After washing several times in DI water (until neutralizing the pH to 6-7) and drying in an oven at 100°C for a minimum of 24 hours, thus obtained SPEEK polymer is obtained. The dry SPEEK polymers were dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) with a ratio of 1/2 and mixed well with Kevlar and Glass fibers in different layers by the wet layup process to produce SPEEK fiber composites under vacuum bagging at a higher temperature (200°C) till all the solvent was removed. The UL 94 standard vertical flame test results showed that the SPEEK composites had very high flame-resistant properties. The water contact angle studies indicated that the composites were highly hydrophobic. The maximum tensile strengths of glass and Kevlar fiber composites were found to be 234,99 and 376.8 MPa and flexural strengths of 51.14 and 92.95 MPa, respectively. SEM testing helped analyze the resin interaction’s topology on the composite. The smoke density test confirmed that light visibility decreased with an increase in burning time. The toxicity tests revealed the presence of some harmful gases in the smoke from the fire.
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Thesis (M.S.)-- Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
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Wichita State University
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