The effect of component combining method on mechanical and tribological properties of carbon-fiber reinforced PEEK-based composites

The mechanical and tribological properties of PEEK-based composites reinforced with chopped carbon fibers have been studied. It has been shown that blending in a paddle mixer with bottom horizontally blade positioning did not result in carbon fibers agglomeration (in the form of “pellets”). Use of this mixing method allowed increasing the elastic modulus (at 3-point bending) of PEEK-based carbon composites by 15–25%, while flexural strength enlarged by 27–42% as compared to gravity blending or mixing with a top vertical blade positioning. Loading the PEEK with chopped carbon fibers reduced the friction coefficient by 1.3 times, while the wear rate decreased by 3 times.