A HIGH-PERFORMANCE ELECTROSTATIC STABILIZER FOR POLY(ETHER ETHER KETONE) PARTICLES

Aqueous dispersion prepregging offers a relatively new alternative for processing graphite fiber reinforced, polymer matrix composites. This method, however, requires the matrix resin to be in the form of small particles in a stable aqueous suspension. This paper describes the development of a high-performance suspension stabilizer, poly(pyridine ether-co-ether ether ketimine). Acid hydrolysis of poly(pyridine ether-co-ether ether ketimine) to poly(pyridine ether-co-ether ether ketone) also results in protonation of the pyridine moiety. Therefore, the polymer can function as an electrostatic stabilizer. This general process can be used to form self-stabilizing particles of the pyridine-containing copolymer or for developing stable aqueous suspensions of preformed poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) particles.