Abstract
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) films irradiated with 170 keV protons were calculated by the stopping and ranges of ions in matter (SRIM) software. The results showed that the damage caused by 170 keV protons was only several microns of the PEEK surface, and the ionization absorbed dose and displacement absorbed dose were calculated. The surface morphology and roughness of PEEK after proton irradiation were studied by atomic force microscope (AFM). GISAXS was used to analyze the surface structural information of the pristine and irradiated PEEK. The experimental results showed that near the surface of the pristine and irradiated PEEK exists a peak, and the peak gradually disappeared with the increasing of the angles of incidence and the peak changed after irradiation, which implies the 170 keV protons have an effect on PEEK structure. The influences of PEEK irradiated with protons on the melting temperature and crystallization temperature was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC results showed that the crystallinity of the polymer after irradiation decreased. The structure and content of free radicals of pristine and irradiated PEEK were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The stress and strain test results showed that the yield strength of the PEEK irradiated with 5 × 1015 p/cm2 and 1 × 1016 p/cm2 was higher than the pristine, but the elongation at break of the PEEK irradiated with 5 × 1015 p/cm2 and 1 × 1016 p/cm2 decreased obviously.
Highlights
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is widely used as an electrical insulation material in the aerospace field due to its excellent thermal and mechanical properties
PEEK films were irradiated by 170 keV protons and the microstructure and the mechanical
PEEK films were irradiated by 170 keV protons and the microstructure and the mechanical properties of PEEK before and after proton irradiation were characterized
Summary
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is widely used as an electrical insulation material in the aerospace field due to its excellent thermal and mechanical properties. The pendant ketone group increases the spacing between the molecules, and the ether bond makes the main chain flexible. The excellent mechanical stability and radiation resistance of PEEK has made it a choice material in a number of applications in the space environment [4]. In some areas of application, e.g., in the nuclear industry or space research, the radiation resistance of PEEK is of major importance [5]. The irradiation causes degradation of polymeric chains, breakage of chemical bonds, generation of free radicals and release of gas degradation products [6,7,8]. The related research on the PEEK irradiation effect
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