Structure and properties of organic-inorganic nanocomposites based on polyaryleneetherketone

Abstract

Polyaryleneetherketone (PAEK) based composites obtained by in situ filling method have been investigated. Ethyl silicate, tris-(methyldiethoxysiloxy)iron and tetrakis-(methyldiethoxysiloxy)zirconium were used as the inorganic phase precursors. In the case of the last two precursors, the method of in situ formation of inorganic filler allows to obtain PAEK films containing inorganic nanoparticles, without resorting to the conditions of humidity of the surounding air. This is apparently due to a compatibility of the starting system PAEK—precursor and high reactivity of iron and zirconium methyldiethoxysiloxanes toward hydrolysis. Such filled systems are characterized by high elastic modulus and tensile strength at break, and also lower weight loss in thermo-oxidative degradation compared with the starting polymer.