The Re?manufacture and Repairability of <scp>PEEK</scp> Discontinuous Carbon Fibre Composites

A major limitation of carbon fibre-reinforced polymers is their unsuitability for repair and recycling processes due to the common employment thermoset resin matrices continuous fibres. Advanced thermoplastic discontinuous fibre moulding compounds (DFMCs) now offer an alternative high-performance components. Although DFMCs cannot match raw performance reinforcement, compression-moulding techniques developed at University Exeter enable poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) matrix challenge mechanical properties aluminium in thick-section components, application area outside scope composites. This previous research also identified that PEEK DFMC components are far less likely suffer significant breakage fibres during fracture, suggesting material highly suited through simple remoulding, using heat pressure re-melt consolidate along fracture path returning it its original strength stiffness. offers exciting capacity recyclability. paper investigates this further, utilising a series three-point bending samples loaded before being reheated pressurised then tested again. Multiple reprocessing approaches investigated, including use additional act as packs, re-pressing induce flow remoulding. study shows composites can be repaired with minimal loss even when occurs. The packs actually increases performance, reaching flexural modulus ca 80 GPa after three cycles maximum stress 900 MPa. © 2021 Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf Society Industrial Chemistry.