High Fibre Volume Fraction Injection Moulding of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in Order to Raise Mechanical Properties

Injection moulded test specimens of short carbon fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were processed, varying fibre weight fraction and fibre type. This investigation was aimed at the enhancement of mechanical properties, e.g. tensile and flexural strength and modulus, respectively. The structure-property-relations in injection moulded granules and specimens were characterized with regard to fibre length and fibre orientation. Tensile and flexural properties revealed a pronounced dependency on the fibre content up to a critical value of 50 w/w%. Above this value, structural inhomogeneity caused strength reduction while modulus was further increased. Comparing the influence of fibre properties, differences in strength were detected.