Mechanical behaviors of Al2O3 nanoparticles reinforced polyetheretherketone

In order to improve the mechanical properties of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), nanometer Al2O3 particles were used as fillers. The effect of size and content of Al2O3 particles, various coupling agents and dispersing methods on the mechanical properties were all studied. The reinforced PEEK filled with 15 nm and 5 wt.% Al2O3 particles possessed higher tensile, flexural and impact performance than that filled with 90 nm and 10 wt.% Al2O3 particles possessed. Especially, the impact strength of the PEEK filled with titanate treated nanometer Al2O3 particles was about eight times that of neat PEEK. Furthermore, the higher tensile, flexural, compression and impact strength of PEEK filled with nanometer Al2O3 particles than that of PEEK filled with nanometer SiO2 particles were presented. In addition, through the analysis of fractographs for tensile specimens by scanning electrical microscope (SEM), the relativity between mechanical characteristics and fracture mechanism were discussed.