The effect of cooling rate on crystallization behavior and tensile properties of CF/PEEK composites

In this study, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests were performed to measure the nonisothermal crystallization behavior of carbon fiber reinforced polyether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) composites under different cooling rates. The characteristic parameters of crystallization were obtained, and the nonisothermal crystallization model was established. The crystallization temperature range of the material at different cooling rates was predicted by the model. The unidirectional laminates were fabricated at different cooling rates in the crystallization temperature range. The results showed that the crystallization temperature range shifted to a lower temperature with the increase of cooling rate, the established nonisothermal crystallization model was consistent with the DSC test results. It is feasible to shorten the cooling control range from the whole process to the crystallization range. The crystallinity and transverse tensile strength declined significantly with the increase of the cooling rate in the crystallization temperature range. The research results provided theoretical support for the selection of cooling conditions and temperature control range, which could be applied to the thermoforming process of semi-crystalline polymer matrixed composites to improve the manufacturing efficiency.

Isothermal and Non-Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of PVDF and PVDF/PMMA Blends

Background: poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF and PVDF/PMMA blends have been investigated with a focus on the crystal structure, immiscibility and mechanical properties. However, few reports were found on the crystallization behaviors of PVDF and PVDF/PMMA blends, especially on crystallization kinetics. The article is to report the research on isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics for PVDF and PVDF/PMMA blends using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: Besides crystallization temperature and isothermal crystallization activation energy, the Avrami equation exponent of PVDF in blends decreased compared with pure PVDF. The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PVDF and PVDF/PMMA (70:30) blends were investigated by Ozawa equation, Jeziorny method and crystallization rate constant (CRC) in detail. The nonisothermal crystallization energy of pure PVDF and its blends were determined by the Kissinger and Vyazovkin’s method. Conclusion: The nucleation and growth mechanism of PVDF in blends changed compared with pure PVDF. The Ozawa equation is not applicable in nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PVDF and PVDF/PMMA blends. The decreasing of crystallization ability of PVDF in blends were found and confirmed by CRC and the decline of crystallization rate constant in Jeziorny method. Such is opposite to the results of Kissinger’s and Vyazovkin’s method, chances are that these two methods were not used to calculate the nonisothermal crystallization activation energy where the nucleation process was influenced.