High‐performance CF/LM‐PAEK L‐shaped corners by the hot stamping technique with low stamping temperature

Abstract To avoid the decomposition of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a low‐melt polyaryletherketone (LM‐PAEK) with a melting temperature of 317 °C was employed to fabric CF/LM‐PAEK L‐shaped corners by the hot stamping technique. By comparing the defects of the CF/LM‐PAEK L‐shaped corners, the hot stamping parameters are optimized to be a stamping rate of 20 mm/s and a stamping temperature of 390 °C. The rheological property of LM‐PAEK resin made it possible to manufacture high‐quality corners with a temperature lower than 400 °C, which can avoid oxidation and deterioration of the PEEK resin during the hot stamping process. The mechanism of the defects reveals that the quality of L‐shaped corners is significantly impacted by the interlayer sliding of the preform during the stamping deformation. The prepared L‐shaped corner shows a maximum curved beam strength (CBS) of 287.1 MPa. The hot stamping temperature of higher than 400 °C will decrease the CBS of the products, indicating the importance of lowering the hot stamping temperature. Highlights L‐shaped CF/LM‐PAEK corners were manufactured by hot stamping at a low temperature. Decomposition of PEEK was avoided by the low stamping temperature of 390 °C. The interlayer sliding of the preform during stamping affected the quality of the corner. The prepared L‐shaped corners' CBS showed a maximum of 287.1 MPa.