A multi-technique and multi-scale analysis of the thermal degradation of PEEK in laser heating

In the present work, thermal degradation of laser-heated poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is studied as heating duration increases. The damage morphology, chemical composition, crystallinity content, and mechanical properties are examined with optical microscopy, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, Raman continuous stiffness measurement nanoindentation. applicability those methods in detecting PEEK assessing induced highlighted. Results show that short-time laser acts an annealing process improves hardness on affected surface by up to 5.1% 10.8% respectively. With a further increase duration, carbonisation occurs char layer formed. Surface associated limits decreasing 50% its 45% indentation modulus. found act shielding mechanism protects bulk from applied load, resulting mostly superficial thermally damage.