Demystifying antistatic PEEK: Carbon fiber reinforced and multiple ways to analyze mechanical properties
In modern industry, the requirements for the antistatic properties of materials are getting higher and higher. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), as a high-performance engineering plastic, is crucial to maintain good mechanical properties while realizing the antistatic function. Among the many ways to realize antistatic PEEK, carbon fiber reinforcement is one of the common choices. There are also ways to add antistatic agents, conductive carbon black, metal fibers, graphene, and more. In the following, we will take a closer look at why carbon fiber reinforcement is chosen for antistatic PEEK and compare the mechanical properties of antistatic PEEK prepared in these different ways.
First, why choose carbon fiber reinforced to realize anti-static PEEK
1. Excellent electrical conductivity
Carbon fiber has good electrical conductivity, can effectively conduct the charge out, so as to achieve the effect of anti-static. Compared with other additives, carbon fiber can achieve the desired antistatic properties at a lower addition level.
2. Significant enhancement
The addition of carbon fiber can not only improve the electrical conductivity of PEEK, but also greatly improve its mechanical properties. Carbon fiber has the characteristics of high strength and high modulus, can significantly enhance the tensile strength, bending strength and rigidity of PEEK.
3. good dimensional stability
Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK in the high temperature and humidity changes in the environment, the dimensional stability is better than other antistatic modification. This is important for applications that require high dimensional accuracy.
4. Long-term stability
Carbon fibers and PEEK matrix between the bond is strong, in the process of long-term use, anti-static properties and mechanical properties are not easy to attenuate, to ensure the reliability and stability of the product.
Second, different ways of antistatic PEEK mechanical performance comparison
1. Antistatic PEEK with antistatic agent
- Tensile properties: tensile strength is generally between 80 - 90 MPa, tensile modulus is about 3 - 4 GPa, elongation at break is about 15% - 25%.
- Flexural Properties: Flexural strength is about 130 - 150 MPa, flexural modulus is within the range of 3 - 4 GPa.
- Impact properties: unnotched impact strength is generally 40 - 60 kJ/m², notched impact strength is about 5 - 8 kJ/m². 2.
2. carbon fiber reinforced antistatic PEEK
- Tensile properties: tensile strength is usually between 180 - 220 MPa, tensile modulus can be as high as 15 - 20 GPa, elongation at break is relatively low, about 1% - 3%.
- Flexural Properties: Flexural strengths can reach 280 - 350 MPa and flexural modulus can exceed 25 GPa.
- Impact Properties: Due to the presence of carbon fibers, the unnotched impact strength is slightly reduced, about 30 - 40 kJ/m², and the notched impact strength is relatively high, usually 8 - 12 kJ/m².
3. Conductive carbon black antistatic PEEK
- Tensile Properties: Tensile strength is generally between 100 - 120 MPa, tensile modulus is about 4 - 6 GPa, elongation at break is about 10% - 15%.
- Flexural Properties: Flexural strength is about 160 - 180 MPa, flexural modulus is within the range of 4 - 6 GPa.
- Impact properties: unnotched impact strength is generally 40 - 50 kJ/m², notched impact strength is about 6 - 9 kJ/m². 4.
4. metal fiber antistatic PEEK
- Tensile properties: tensile strength is usually between 150 - 180 MPa, tensile modulus can reach 8 - 12 GPa, elongation at break is about 5% - 10%.
- Flexural Properties: Flexural strength can reach 220 - 280 MPa, flexural modulus can exceed 15 GPa.
- Impact performance: the unnotched impact strength is generally 30 - 40 kJ/m², and the notched impact strength is around 7 - 10 kJ/m². 5.
5. graphene antistatic PEEK
- Tensile properties: Tensile strength is generally between 120 - 150 MPa, tensile modulus is about 5 - 8 GPa, elongation at break is about 8% - 12%.
- Flexural Properties: Flexural strength is about 180 - 220 MPa, flexural modulus is in the range of 5 - 8 GPa.
- Impact Properties: Unnotched impact strength is generally 40 - 50 kJ/m², notched impact strength is around 7 - 10 kJ/m².
Comparative Analysis and Discussion
1. Strength properties
- Carbon fiber reinforced antistatic PEEK performs best in terms of tensile and flexural strength, which is much higher than several other methods. This is due to the high-strength properties of carbon fibers, which can effectively bear loads and improve the load-bearing capacity of the material.
- Metal fiber antistatic PEEK also has excellent strength properties, followed by graphene antistatic PEEK and conductive carbon black antistatic PEEK, and antistatic PEEK with antistatic agent is relatively weak.
2. Modulus properties
- Carbon fiber reinforced antistatic PEEK has the highest modulus, showing high rigidity and dimensional stability.
- Metal fiber antistatic PEEK and graphene antistatic PEEK also have high modulus, followed by conductive carbon black antistatic PEEK, and antistatic PEEK with antistatic agent has low modulus.
3. Elongation and impact properties
- Antistatic PEEK with antistatic agent usually has high elongation at break and unnotched impact strength, showing good toughness and impact resistance.
- Conductive carbon black antistatic PEEK, graphene antistatic PEEK and metal fiber antistatic PEEK have relatively balanced elongation and impact properties.
- Carbon fiber reinforced antistatic PEEK due to the rigidity of carbon fibers, lower elongation at break, but relatively high notched impact strength.
Application Scenarios and Selection Basis
1. Antistatic PEEK with antistatic agent
- Application scenarios: for the mechanical properties of the requirements are not high, but the cost is sensitive, and the need for a certain anti-static properties of the occasion, such as some electronic packaging materials.
- Selection basis: lower cost, better processing performance, to meet the general demand for anti-static. 2.
2. carbon fiber reinforced antistatic PEEK
- Application Scenario: Mainly used in aerospace, automotive, high-end machinery and other areas that require high strength, modulus and anti-static properties.
- Selection basis: can provide excellent mechanical properties and anti-static properties, but the cost is relatively high.
3. Conductive carbon black antistatic PEEK
- Application Scenario: Commonly used in electronic and electrical appliances, industrial parts and other fields, to ensure a certain mechanical properties at the same time to achieve anti-static function.
- Selection basis: moderate cost, performance is more balanced. 4.
4. metal fiber antistatic PEEK
- Application Scenario: suitable for the strength and conductivity of the higher requirements of the occasion, such as special electronic equipment components.
- Selection basis: better conductivity and strength, but may increase the density of the material.
5. graphene antistatic PEEK
- Application Scenario: In areas with high performance requirements, size constraints, and weight sensitivity, such as micro-electronic devices and high-performance sensors.
- Selection basis: able to achieve good performance with low addition amount, but the cost of graphene is relatively high.
In summary, different antistatic methods give PEEK different mechanical properties characteristics. In practical applications, the most suitable antistatic PEEK material should be selected according to the specific requirements of use, cost budget and processing conditions and other factors, in order to meet the needs of specific areas. With the continuous development of materials science, we believe that more and more optimized antistatic PEEK solutions will appear in the future, and promote the technological progress and innovation of related industries.
