High-performance PPS/PEEK blend and its composites with milled carbon fiber: Study on their mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties

Abstract

The high-performance PPS/PEEK blends/composites were prepared with different mass ratios using polyphenylene sulphide (Solvey, Ryton®-R-4-230 NA) and polyetherether ketone (Victrex, PEEK450 GL 30). All the blend samples had a single Tg, which revealed good compatibility between PPS and PEEK. The Tm was increased from 279.6 to 339.9°C due to addition of PEEK into PPS. Also, addition of PEEK into the blend increased the impact and tensile strength of the PPS material. The impact strength of the blend, PPS/PEEK (20/80) exhibited the maximum value of 113.64 J/m which was higher than that of PPS (70.66 J/m). The tensile strength of the blend was increased continuously with increasing the content of PEEK from 20 to 80 wt. % and reached the maximum value of 160.64 MPa. Additionally, milled carbon fiber (MCF) was also incorporated in order to obtain high strength PPS/PEEK blends/composites with good dielectric property. The dielectric performance of the composites was observed to increase with MCF content (in the frequency range 5.8 to 18 GHz). Highlights: This investigation relates to high-performance PPS/PEEK blends and composites. Incorporation of milled carbon fiber resulted promising dielectric properties. Such composites may have Advanced structural EMI shielding electronics and/or aerospace applications.