Microstructure Development, Wear Characteristics and Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition of Hybrid Nanocomposites Based on Poly Aryl Ether Ketone, Boron Carbide and Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes

In the present study a high performance polymer poly aryl ether ketone (PAEK) is reinforced with micro and nano boron carbide (B4C) and functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNT) to investigate the individual and hybrid effect of the fillers. Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy suggested the dispersion of micro and nano fillers respectively in PAEK matrix. The inclusion of B4C nano fillers increased the hardness of the composites which aided the wear resistance of the composites. The morphological features of the worn surface of the samples are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. It is found from the izod impact test analysis that the impact strength of the composite enhanced by the F-MWCNT inclusion. The thermal properties of PAEK in the composites are studied using differential scanning calorimetry and it revealed dominant effect of F-MWCNT influencing the thermal transitions than the B4C particles. The kinetics of thermal degradation of various composites is analyzed using Coats-Redfern method. The positive influence of B4C in the matrix indicates that the thermal degradation is delayed due to the higher activation energy it possesses. The overall results shows that the hybrid nanocomposite exhibits better properties compared to individual micro and nano composites.