Study on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fabric/Polyetherketoneketone Composites Under Different Environmental Conditions

Carbon fabric reinforced polyetherketoneketone (CFF/PEKK) composites have garnered significant attention from researchers due to their superior properties and have been successfully applied in various engineering fields. Environmental conditions are known to directly influence the mechanical properties and service life of composites; however, limited literature exists on the mechanical behavior of CFF/PEKK composites under different environmental conditions. This study elucidates the correlation between the bending and shear behaviors of CFF/PEKK composites and environmental factors, thereby offering robust data support for engineering applications. In this work, CFF/PEKK composite laminates with a fiber volume fraction of 55 vol% were fabricated and subjected to saturated moisture absorption treatments at 70 °C. The moisture absorption characteristics of the material were investigated. The bending and shear properties of CFF/PEKK composites were characterized under three environmental conditions: −55 °C dry state (CTD), room temperature dry state (RTD), and 70 °C wet state (ETW). Failure modes and mechanisms of composite specimens were also analyzed. The equilibrium moisture absorption rate of CFF/PEKK composites is approximately 0.27%. Hygrothermal aging resulted in noticeable fiber pull-out in mechanical specimens, indicating damage to the interfacial performance of the composites. Furthermore, no cracks or delamination were observed. Results indicate that in the CTD condition, the bending strength and shear strength of CFF/PEKK composites are higher compared to those in the RTD condition, while the modulus remains relatively unaffected. In the ETW condition, both bending and shear properties exhibit a significant decline, with the most pronounced reduction observed in interlaminar shear strength. No significant differences in failure modes were noted across different environmental conditions.