Novel high performance Al2O3/poly(ether ether ketone) nanocomposites for electronics applications

This paper deals with the preparation and characterization of nanocomposites of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) containing nanoaluminum oxide (n-Al2O3) filler up to 30 wt% (12 vol%) loading. Nanocomposites showed improved thermal stability, crystallization, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Thermogravimetric analysis showed enhanced thermal stability and char yield on increasing the n-Al2O3 loading in PEEK matrix. The peak crystallization temperature is increased up to 13 'C for the nanocomposites as compared to pure PEEK. The CTE is decreased to a value very close to the CTE of copper at 12 vol% Al2O3 loading. The CTE values obtained were compared with the theoretical equations in the literature. The X-ray diffraction showed that PEEK crystalline structure is unchanged with addition of n-Al2O3. The distribution of n-Al2O3 in the PEEK matrix was studied by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the prepared n-Al2O3/PEEK nanocomposites may have potential applications in electronics. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.