Porous poly-ether ether ketone (PEEK) manufactured by a novel powder route using near-spherical salt bead porogens: characterisation and mechanical properties

Siddiq, Abdur R.; Kennedy, Andrew R.

Abstract

Porous PEEK structures with approximately 85% open porosity have been made using PEEK-OPTIMA® powder and a particulate leaching technique using porous, near-spherical, sodium chloride beads. A novel manufacturing approach is presented and compared with a traditional dry mixing method. Irrespective of the method used, the use of near-spherical beads with a fairly narrow size range results in uniform pore structures. However the integration, by tapping, of fine PEEK into a pre-existing network salt beads, followed by compaction and “sintering”, produces porous structures with excellent repeatability and homogeneity of density; more uniform pore and strut sizes; an improved and predictable level of connectivity via the formation of “windows” between the cells; faster salt removal rates and lower levels of residual salt. Although tapped samples show a compressive yield stress N1 MPa and stiffness N30 MPa for samples with 84% porosity, the presence of windows in the cell walls means that tapped structures show lower strengths and lower stiffnesses than equivalent structures made by mixing.

Citation

Siddiq, A. R., & Kennedy, A. R. (2015). Porous poly-ether ether ketone (PEEK) manufactured by a novel powder route using near-spherical salt bead porogens: characterisation and mechanical properties. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 47, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2014.11.044

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 28, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 28, 2016
• Journal: Materials Science and Engineering: C
• Print ISSN: 0928-4931
• Electronic ISSN: 0928-4931
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2014.11.044
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/741941
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928493114007450