Thermal and rheological properties of poly(phenylene sulfide) and poly(ether etherketone) resins and composites

Abstract Poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and poly(ether etherketone) (PEEK) are high performance engineering thermoplastics with a unique combination of excellent environmental, mechanical, and thermal properties. Research on the thermal and rheological properties of PPS and PEEK resins and carbon fiber reinforced prepregs are described. Experimental studies of the dynamic viscoelasticity and thermal properties of these materials are summarized. The effects of processing cycles and environment on the thermal and rheological properties are discussed. The effects of the processing environment and the addition of carbon fiber on the thermal stability are reported. Crosslinking of poly(phenylene sulfide) in air, enhancing thermal stability, is also investigated.