PEEK GEL FROM BENZOPHENONE SOLUTION

Abstract

The structure and thermal stability of PEEK crystals obtained from solution was investigated. A PEEK chip was dissolved in benzophenone at 280°C, and cooled slowly. In this crystallization process, a membrane was first formed on the surface of solution and then gelation took place at about 220°C. Both the membrane and the gel, extructed with acetone, have high crystallinities and high heat stabilities. Especially, the crystallinity of the membrane is as high as 75%. The membrane and the gel are both porous, but the former has denser structure. The (200) diffraction orients along the normal direction of the membrane surface.