Evaluating of the effect of filler materials on PEEK mechanical properties

Materials are constantly evolving to optimize mechanical properties for a broader range of applications. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a newer generation material that is desirable in its composite form which is tailored through the use of filler materials. Glass or carbon fiber additions into a PEEK matrix increase strength; however, there may be tradeoffs in performance. For example, the tailored material may be more design-sensitive to brittle failure or crack initiation. With increased usage across industries, composite PEEK failure modes are important in biomedical, aerospace, automotive, and other technological fields. Mechanical testing was performed on neat PEEK, glass-filled PEEK, and carbon fiber-filled PEEK. In addition to creating an atlas of fracture surfaces from tensile, impact, and fatigue failure modes, this work investigates PEEK material at the microscale to unveil fiber-matrix interactions. Cross-sectional analysis of filled PEEK materials that have undergone failure additionally describe filler material contributions to the overall mechanical integrity of PEEK composites. Overall, understanding the microscale lends an increased understanding of potential failure mechanisms and ultimately failure prevention when selecting filled PEEK materials.