Correlation of crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of thermal sprayed PEEK coating

An amorphous PEEK coating was prepared on an Al substrate by a flame spraying process. The amorphous coating was subjected to an annealing treatment under an annealing temperature from 180 to 300 °C and a holding time from 1 to 30 min. The cold crystallization behavior of the as-sprayed coating differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements. The hardness and tribological behavior of the coatings were investigated. Both DSC and WAXD analysis revealed that the annealed coatings exhibited a semi-crystalline structure. Coexistence of double crystal entities in annealed coatings was deduced. The annealed coatings exhibit higher hardness, lower friction coefficient and wear rate. Both the annealing temperature and holding time can benefit the coating hardness. The annealing condition in the studied range has little influence on the tribological behavior of the coatings. The variances of the coating mechanical properties were correlated with the modifications of the coating structures induced by the annealing treatments.