Investigation of the thermal decomposition and flammability of PEEK and its carbon and glass-fibre composites

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 96; no. 1; pp. 12 - 22
• Main Authors: Patel, Parina, Hull, T. Richard, Lyon, Richard E., Stoliarov, Stanislav I., Walters, Richard N., Crowley, Sean, Safronava, Natallia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Calorimetry; Carbon; Chemical reactions and properties; Combustion; composite materials; Degradation; Durability; engineering; Ethers; Exact sciences and technology; fire behavior; Fire calorimetry; Fires; Flammability; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; glass fibers; heat tolerance; Limiting oxygen index; metals; Organic polymers; oxygen; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyetheretherketone; Polyetheretherketones; polymers; pyrolysis; Pyrolysis Combustion Flow Calorimeter; Thermal decomposition; thermal properties; thermogravimetry; UL-94; UL-94; Fire calorimetry; Thermal decomposition; Polyetheretherketone; Flammability; Pyrolysis Combustion Flow Calorimeter; Limiting oxygen index; Fiber reinforced material; Aromatic polymer; Thermogravimetry; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; Composite material; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; Calorimetry; Measurement method; Glass fiber; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.11.009

Conventional thermally durable materials such as metals are being replaced with heat resistant engineering polymers and their composites in applications where burn-through resistance and structural integrity after exposure to fire are required. Poly aryl ether ether ketone (PEEK) is one such engineering polymer. Little work has been published with regards to the flammability of PEEK and its filled composites. The current study aims to assess the flammability and fire behaviour of PEEK and its composites using thermogravimetric analysis, pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry, limiting oxygen index, a vertical flame resistance test, and fire (cone) calorimetry.