As a special engineering plastic, PEEK has the advantages of high temperature resistance, low temperature resistance, wear resistance, high strength, corrosion resistance, gamma ray radiation resistance, fatigue resistance, and easy molding. It is one of the high-performance polymers with outstanding comprehensive performance. PEEK is gradually replacing traditional metal materials in the fields of aviation, aerospace, military industry, nuclear power, etc., and is also playing an increasingly important role in the low-altitude economy. Compared with metal materials, PEEK has strong fatigue resistance and can maintain high rigidity at a high temperature of 260°C. Its rigidity is 4 times that of aluminum alloy and 1.5 times that of steel, and its weight is only half that of aluminum alloy.
Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK material
Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composite materials refer to composite materials in which carbon fiber is reinforced with PEEK resin in the form of short carbon fiber (SCF), long carbon fiber (LCF) and continuous carbon fiber (CCF) or fabric. The performance of carbon fiber reinforced PEEK materials is improved in many aspects compared with pure PEEK materials. The tensile strength of 30% short carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone composite materials at room temperature is at least doubled compared with unreinforced ones, and reaches three times at 150 ℃, while the tensile strength of polyacrylonitrile continuous carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone materials in strip-shaped single-phase prepreg is twenty times that of unreinforced polyetheretherketone materials at room temperature. At the same time, the reinforced composite materials have also been greatly improved in impact strength, flexural strength and modulus, the elongation has been sharply reduced, and the heat deformation temperature can exceed 300 ℃. The impact energy absorption rate of the composite material directly affects the performance of the composite material when it is subjected to impact. Carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone PEEK composite materials show a specific energy absorption capacity of up to 180kJ/kg. The reinforcement of carbon fiber can resist the thermal softening of PEEK to a certain extent, forming a very high-strength transfer film to effectively protect the contact area, so the wear rate of carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone PEEK composites is significantly lower than that of pure PEEK. Carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone PEEK composites are used in the production of parts, which can effectively avoid problems such as surface cracks in metal or ceramic materials. Its excellent tribological properties even exceed those of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene. Compared with traditional aluminum alloys and stainless steel materials, PEEK composites are lightweight and have obvious strength advantages.
Application of carbon fiber reinforced PEEK in drones
In the case of high-speed flight, low mass means low inertia, which can achieve higher control accuracy. In particular, carbon fiber reinforced PEEK thermoplastic composites can further improve its performance and have high application potential in the low-altitude economy field. Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK can be used to manufacture drone frames, propellers and engine parts, as well as lightweight structural parts of low-altitude flying cars, such as seats, doors and window frames, and can also be used to manufacture housings for sensors and control systems.
Benefits include:
● Weight reduction and noise reduction: After using PEEK and short fiber composite materials, the weight can be reduced while maintaining the excellent performance of the fuselage material, improving the strength of the blade itself, better dynamic balance, and more significant noise reduction effect.
● High strength: Compared with traditional metal materials, PEEK has high tensile strength and fatigue resistance, suitable for repeated use and extreme loads.
● Good flight stability: PEEK and its composite materials have a small thermal expansion coefficient, strong fatigue resistance and vibration resistance, can be used normally in harsh environments, and the blades are not easily deformed by the external environment, and have a long service life.
● Heat resistance: PEEK can maintain its performance at extreme temperatures.
● Chemical resistance: PEEK has good resistance to most solvents, chemicals and radiation, and is suitable for use in harsh environments.
● Self-lubricating property: The self-lubricating property of PEEK reduces friction between components and extends the service life of the equipment.
