Preparation and Radiation Shielding Properties of Gd2O3/PEEK Composites

Gd2O3/PEEK (poly ether ether ketone) composites were prepared on a twin-screw extruder by the incorporation of Gd2O3 as a shield against X-ray to PEEK matrix. The influence of Gd2O3 addition and surface treatment of the particles with sulfonated PEEK (SPEEK) on the morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated by SEM, DSC, TGA and tensile tests respectively. DSC results showed that both the crystallization temperature (T-c) and melting temperature (T-m) of the composites decreased compared with pure PEEK at random filler content, which suggested that Gd2O3 hindered the process of PEEK nucleation. The tensile modulus of the composites increased with addition of Gd2O3 and the strain to break decreased. But the tensile modulus and strength of modified series were always higher than that of unmodified ones at the same filler content. The X-ray shielding properties of composites apparently improved with the increment of the Gd2O3. The X-ray transmittance (A) of 45% S(4)GPEEK reduced greatly by about three to eight times compared with PEEKs in all energy range measured. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:651-659, 2015. (c) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers