Environmental effects on the water absorption and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced PPS and PEEK composites. Part II

Abstract

Abstract Research has been conducted to investigate the water absorption in carbon fiber reinforced poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK/CF) and poly(phenylene sulfide) composites (PPS/CF). Effect of humidity and temperature on tensile, flexural, and impact strength of these composites were also studied. Results indicated that the water absorbed in PPS/CF and PEEK/CF are 0.059 %wt, 0.130 %wt, 0.138 %wt, and 0.153 %wt at 80°C. 75 %RH and 85 %RH, respectively. The diffusion process is a classical Fickian diffusion in the temperature range investigated. The activation energies of diffusion are 667 cal/g‐mole (for PPS/CF) and 8934 cal/g‐mole (for PEEK/CF) at 80°C and 75 %RH. The retention of mechanical properties of these composites is very good under hot‐wet conditions. These composite materials can be served as high performance materials even in the hostile environment. PEEK/CF composites shows excellent mechanical properties retention even at 80°C, 75 %RH, and 85 %RH.