Experimental and theoretical investigations of the high performance blends of PEEK/PEI

Abstract

Abstract Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polyether imide (PEI) blends were made by melt blending using a twin-screw extruder. The blends were characterized by mechanical testing, thermal, rheological and morphological studies. Predictive models were used to explain the tensile modulus and strength properties. The impact strength increases when percentage of the PEI increases in composite. This has been analyzed on the basis of the interphase adhesion. Tensile and flexural strength also increased with increase in the PEI content. Incorporation of PEI increases the glass transition temperature ( T g ) and facilitates its processing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to study the phase structure. These experimental findings are in agreement with predictive models based on the rule of mixture and the Nicolais-Narkis model. Multi quadric radial basis function (MQRBF) was applied to study the static and dynamic response of the PEEK/PEI blend plate at uniformly distributed load. The present results were compared with numerical and analytical results.