Synthesis and Characterisation of ASA-PEEK Composites for Fused Filament Fabrication

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 496
• Main Authors: Palacios-Ibáñez, Belén, Relinque, José J, Moreno-Sánchez, Daniel, de León, Alberto S, Delgado, Francisco J, Escobar-Galindo, Ramón, Molina, Sergio I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: composite materials; Extrusion molding; Fused deposition modeling; fused filament fabrication; Injection molding; Manufacturing; Mechanical properties; Polyether ether ketones; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrum analysis; Stiffness; Temperature; Tensile strength; thermal properties; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; thermoplastic polymers; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Germany; Spain; thermoplastic polymers; thermal properties; mechanical properties; fused filament fabrication; composite materials
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym14030496

In this paper, a series of polymer composites made from acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) and poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) were manufactured. ASA acts as a polymer matrix while PEEK is loaded in the form of micro-particles that act as a reinforcing filler. The composites were compounded by single screw extrusion and then, different specimens were manufactured either via injection moulding (IM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF). Two different types of PEEK (commercial and reused) in different concentrations (3 and 6 wt.%) were tested and their influence in the mechanical, structural, and thermal properties were studied. It was observed that reused PEEK enhanced the stiffness and tensile strength and thermal stability of the composites both, for injected and printed specimens. This evidences the suitability of these composites as potential candidates as novel materials with enhanced properties following an approach of circular economy.