Aluminium borate whiskers grafted with boric acid containing poly(ether ether ketone) as a reinforcing agent for the preparation of poly(ether ether ketone) composites

Abstract

A new soluble boron-containing poly(ether ether ketone) (B-PEEK) was synthesized through iridium-catalyzed C–H borylation of soluble meta-poly(ether ether ketone) and grafted on the surface of aluminum borate whiskers as the coupling agent between the whiskers and poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) matrix. The grafted aluminum borate whisker (g-W) reinforced PEEK composites were then prepared via a melt blending method. The coupling effect of B-PEEK was investigated by the interface micromorphology analysis and performance evaluation of PEEK composites. After grafting treatment with B-PEEK, aluminum borate whiskers were found to be dispersed evenly in the PEEK matrix without apparent aggregation. Ascribed to the strong interaction between whisker grafted chains and the PEEK matrix, g-W/PEEK composites show better mechanical properties and izod impact strength, higher crystallization temperature and crystalline fraction (χ_c) than those composites without grafting modification, indicating B-PEEK is an effective coupling reagent for PEEK and aluminum borate whiskers.