TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhanced mechanical properties of CF/PEEK and CF/Epoxy composites with micro-/nano- Aramid Pulp interleaves
AU - Ye, Mingxin
AU - Lin, Fankai
AU - Hu, Yunsen
AU - Hu, Xiaozhi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025
PY - 2025/5/3
Y1 - 2025/5/3
N2 - Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) composites with excellent biomedical properties have been used clinically for bioimplants, but mechanical failure due to delamination remains a concern. This study explores the use of micro-/nano- Aramid Pulp (AP) fibers to enhance the delamination toughness of CF/PEEK composites. Furthermore, AP-interfacial toughened CF/PEEK composites are compared with common carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (CF/Epoxy) composites. The findings revealed that AP toughening increased the compressive strength of CF/PEEK composites by 41%, improved flexural-after-impact (FAI) strength by 19%, and reduced the rear surface delamination area by 51 %. It was also found that the flexural failure of CF/PEEK composites is initiated from the tensile surface, in contrast to CF/Epoxy composites, which undergo initial delamination and micro-buckling in the compression region. Additionally, AP-interfacial toughening has effectively eliminated top surface compressive cracks in CF/PEEK composites under flexural conditions despite its tension-driven failure mechanism. Consequently, besides the comparison of CF/PEEK and CF/Epoxy composites, this study provides valuable insights into minimizing mechanical failures of CF/PEEK implants in patients, where delamination is a major contributing factor.
AB - Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) composites with excellent biomedical properties have been used clinically for bioimplants, but mechanical failure due to delamination remains a concern. This study explores the use of micro-/nano- Aramid Pulp (AP) fibers to enhance the delamination toughness of CF/PEEK composites. Furthermore, AP-interfacial toughened CF/PEEK composites are compared with common carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (CF/Epoxy) composites. The findings revealed that AP toughening increased the compressive strength of CF/PEEK composites by 41%, improved flexural-after-impact (FAI) strength by 19%, and reduced the rear surface delamination area by 51 %. It was also found that the flexural failure of CF/PEEK composites is initiated from the tensile surface, in contrast to CF/Epoxy composites, which undergo initial delamination and micro-buckling in the compression region. Additionally, AP-interfacial toughening has effectively eliminated top surface compressive cracks in CF/PEEK composites under flexural conditions despite its tension-driven failure mechanism. Consequently, besides the comparison of CF/PEEK and CF/Epoxy composites, this study provides valuable insights into minimizing mechanical failures of CF/PEEK implants in patients, where delamination is a major contributing factor.
KW - Aramid Pulp (AP)
KW - Carbon fiber Epoxy (CF, Epoxy)
KW - Carbon fiber PEEK (CF PEEK)
KW - Flexure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003992034&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108964
DO - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108964
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105003992034
SN - 1359-835X
VL - 196
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
JF - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
M1 - 108964
ER -