Effect of preparation process on tensile strength of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyetheretherketone composite materials

Tensile strength of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyetheretherketone(n-HA/PEEK) composites with 5vol.% HA prepared by various process were researched in this study. The untreated n-HA/PEEK composite specimens with HA content of 5 vol.% were prepared via a compounding and injection molding process at first. Partial specimens were annealed in the oven at 250°C for 1h. Then silane coupling agent (SCA) was employed to modify the HA nanoparticles and SCA-HA/PEEK composites were prepared with injection molding process. The n-HA/PEEK composites were prepared by using repeated melting, crystallization and granulation at last. The tensile strength of all the HA/PEEK composites were measured by an Instron IX Material Testing System and the fracture surface of nanocomposites were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that heat treatment, SCA modification, repeated processing could improve the tensile strength. The optimal tensile strength of the composite materials were prepared by repeated processing.