Effect of Temperature Compressive Properties

The flexural strength and modulus of KetaSpire KT-820 ®

Compression testing is often considered the opposite
NT and KT-820 GF30 BG20 were evaluated at elevated of tensile testing. Although both involve the application
temperatures using ASTM test method D790. The results of an axial load, in tensile testing the sample is pulled
are shown in Table 3.9 and Figures 3.17 and 3.18. until it breaks, while in compression testing the sample
is pushed until it breaks or buckles. A specimen with a
Table 3.9 Flexural properties vs. temperature uniform cross section is placed between parallel plates
and a force applied until yield, fracture, or buckling.
Flexural Flexural
Strength, Modulus, There are two commonly used test methods for
MPa (kpsi) GPa (kpsi)
compressive properties: ASTM D695 and ISO 604. They
KT-820 KT-820 differ significantly in test specimen and testing speed.
Temperature KT-820 GF30 KT-820 GF30 ASTM D695 typically uses a standard test specimen in the
°C (°F) NT BG20 NT BG20
form of a right cylinder or prism. The preferred specimen
23 (73) 156 268 3.77 10.0
size for strength testing is 12.7 x 12.7 x 25.4 mm (0.5 x
(22.6) (38.9) (547) (1,450)
0.5 x 1 in.); the size for modulus is 12.7 x 12.7 x 50.8 mm
100 (212) 112 210 3.44 9.34
(16.2) (30.4) (499) (1,350)
(0.5 x 0.5 x 2 in.). When thermoplastic resins are injection
molded into specimens this thick, it is difficult to mold
150 (302) 56 136 2.35 6.60
(8.12) (19.7) (341) (957) without some internal defects, either in the form of weld
lines or micro-voids.
200 (392) 13 61 0.32 2.26
(1.88) (8.85) (46) (328)
ISO 604 uses a specimen machined from a standard
ISO 527 tensile bar. This specimen for strength has
Figure 3.17 Flexural strength vs. temperature dimensions of 10 x 10 x 4 mm (0.39 x 0.39 x 0.16 in.)
300 and for modulus 10 x 30 x 4 mm (0.39 x 1.18 x 0.16 in.).
KT-820 NT 40 Molding this specimen from thermoplastic resins is much
250 KT-820 GF30 BG20 easier. Fiber reinforced grades will tend to have the fibers
Flexural strength [ MPa ]

Flexural strength [ kpsi ]

30
oriented in the flow direction which will affect the results.
200
When load is applied to either specimen, the resultant
150 strain will be in the X direction. Friction between the
20
loading plate and the specimen will prevent strain at the
100
top and bottom surfaces and the specimen will expand
10
50 only in the center. It has been shown that lubrication of the
specimen-loading plate interface can give better results.
0 0 Since ASTM D695 does not allow the use of lubrication,
0 50 100 150 200 none was used in either case.
Temperature [ °C ]
Compressive Strength Testing (ASTM D695)
Figure 3.18 Flexural modulus vs. temperature Compressive strength testing was done in accordance
12,000 with ASTM D695 at room temperature, 100 °C (212 °F),
KT-820 NT 1,600 160 °C (302 °F), and 200 °C (392 °F). The test specimen
10,000 KT-820 GF30 BG20
1,400 used was an injection molded rectangular prism with
Flexural modulus [ MPa ]

Flexural modulus [ kpsi ]

1,200
dimensions of 12.7 x 12.7 x 25.4 mm (0.5 x 0.5 x 1.0 in.).
8,000
Prior to testing, the specimens were annealed for two
1,000
6,000 hours at 200 °C (392 °F). After annealing, they were
800 conditioned according to ASTM D618. Testing speed
4,000 600 was 1.3 mm/min (0.05 in./min). Stress was calculated by
400 dividing the load by the initial cross-sectional area. The
2,000 position of the crosshead was monitored and the change
200
in position was identified as nominal strain. Percent
0 0
strain was calculated by dividing the measured change
0 50 100 150 200
Temperature [ °C ]
in crosshead position by the initial specimen height.

Load was applied until the yield point was exceeded. The
yield point is defined as the first point on the stress strain
diagram at which an increase in strain occurs without
an increase in stress. This point is usually the maximum
stress and is reported as the compressive yield strength.

24 \ KetaSpire® PEEK Design and Processing Guide

 Ductile materials may then exhibit a plateau followed by Figure 3.22 Stress-strain curves for KetaSpire®
a sharp increase in stress prior to fracture. It is important KT-820 SL10
to distinguish between yield and breaking stress.
120
23 °C ( 73 °F ) 16
Stress-strain curves 100 °C ( 212 °F )
100 14
Plots of the compressive stress versus the nominal strain 150 °C ( 302 °F )
200 °C ( 392 °F )
for several KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) grades 12

Stress [ kpsi ]
80

Stress [ MPa ]
are shown in Figures 3.19 through 3.24. The compressive 10
yield strengths of these materials at four different 60
8
temperatures are shown in Table 3.10.
40 6
Figure 3.19 Stress-strain curves for KetaSpire ® 4
20
KT-820 NT 2
140 20 0 0
23 °C ( 73 °F ) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
120 100 °C ( 212 °F )
Strain [ % ]
150 °C ( 302 °F )
100 200 °C ( 392 °F ) 15
Stress [ kpsi ] Figure 3.23 Stress-strain curves for KetaSpire®
Stress [ MPa ]

80 KT-820 SL30
10
60 120
23 °C ( 73 °F ) 16
40 5 100 °C ( 212 °F )
100 14
150 °C ( 302 °F )
20 200 °C ( 392 °F )
12

Stress [ kpsi ]
80
Stress [ MPa ]

0 0
10
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 60
Strain [ % ] 8
40 6
Figure 3.20 Stress-strain curves for KetaSpire ® 4
20
KT-820 GF30 2
180 0 0
23 °C ( 73 °F ) 25
160 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
100 °C ( 212 °F )
Strain [ % ]
140 150 °C ( 302 °F ) 20
200 °C ( 392 °F )
Figure 3.24 Stress-strain curves for KetaSpire®
Stress [ kpsi ]

120
Stress [ MPa ]

100 15 KT-820 SL45

80 140 20
10 23 °C ( 73 °F )
60 100 °C ( 212 °F ) 18
120
40 150 °C ( 302 °F ) 16
5 200 °C ( 392 °F )
100 14
20
Stress [ kpsi ]
Stress [ MPa ]

0 0 80 12
0 5 10 15 20 10
60
Strain [ % ] 8
40 6
Figure 3.21 Stress-strain curves for KetaSpire® 4
20
KT-820 CF30 2
0 0
180
23 °C ( 73 °F ) 25 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
160 100 °C ( 212 °F ) Strain [ % ]
140 150 °C ( 302 °F ) 20
200 °C ( 392 °F )
Stress [ kpsi ]

120
Stress [ MPa ]

100 15
80
10
60
40 5
20
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Strain [ % ]
KetaSpire® PEEK Design and Processing Guide / 25
Table 3.10 Compressive yield strength of KetaSpire® Compressive Strength Testing (ISO 604)
PEEK at several temperatures The ISO method followed was ISO 604. The test
specimens were prepared from the center section of
Compressive Yield Strength,
MPa (kpsi) injection molded tensile bars as specified in ISO 527/A
and ISO 3167. The specimen dimensions for strength
23 °C 100 °C 150 °C 200 °C
testing were 10 x 4 x 10 mm (0.39 x 0.16 x 0.39 in.).
Grade (73 °F) (212 °F) (302 °F) (392 °F)
Prior to testing the specimens were annealed for 2 hours
KT-820 NT 123 83.5 63.5 23.8
(17.8) (12.1) (9.21) (3.45) at 200 °C (392 °F) and then conditioned for at least 24
hours at 23 °C (73 °F) and 50 % relative humidity. The
KT-820 GF30 168 120 80.2 36.6
BG20 (24.4) (17.4) (11.6) (5.31) crosshead speed used was 5 mm/min (0.2 in./min).
KT-820 CF30 170 124 83.9 44.4 Test results are summarized in Table 3.12
(24.6) (18.0) (12.2) (6.44)
Compressive Modulus Testing (ISO 604)
KT-820 SL10 114 76.1 55.0 22.3
(16.5) (11.0) (7.98) (3.23) The ISO method followed was ISO 604. The test
KT-820 SL30 112 85.0 61.3 32.0 specimens were prepared from the center section of
(16.2) (12.3) (8.89) (4.64) injection-molded tensile bars as specified in ISO 527/A
KT-820 SL45 128 100 71.0 39.1 and ISO 3167. The specimen dimensions for strength
(18.6) (14.5) (10.3) (5.67) testing were 10 x 4 x 30 mm (0.39 x 0.16 x 1.18 in.). Prior
to testing the specimens were annealed for 2 hours at
Compressive Modulus Testing (ASTM D695) 200 °C (392 °F) and then conditioned for at least 24 hours
The compressive modulus can be used to estimate at 23 °C (73 °F) and 50 % relative humidity. The crosshead
the deformation that occurs upon application of a speed used was 1 mm/min (0.04 inch/min). Test results
compressive load. Compressive modulus of several are shown in Table 3.12.
KetaSpire® PEEK grades was determined using ASTM Table 3.12 Compressive properties of KetaSpire®
D695. The test specimen used was an injection molded PEEK (ISO 604)
rectangular prism with dimensions of 12.7 x 12.7 x 50.8 mm
(0.5 x 0.5 x 2.0 in.). Prior to testing, the specimens were Compressive Compressive
annealed for two hours at 200 °C (392 °F). After annealing, Modulus, Strength,
they were conditioned according to ASTM D618. The Grade MPa (kpsi) MPa (kpsi)
testing speed was 1.3 mm/min (0.05 in./min). A linear KT-820 NT 3,810 (553) 130 (18.9)
variable displacement transformer (LVDT) was attached KT-850 NT 4,095 (594) 132 (19.1)
to the top and bottom platens to more accurately measure KT-880 NT 3,435 (498) 142 (20.6)
the strain. The test was continued until yield so the yield KT-820 GF30 10,590 (1,536) 274 (39.7)
strength as well as the modulus were obtained. The results KT-880 GF30 10,960, (1,589) 284 (41.2)
are shown in Table 3.11.
KT-820 CF30 22,320 (3,237) 305 (44.2)
KT-880 CF30 23,331 (3,384) 323 (46.8)
Table 3.11 Compressive properties of KetaSpire®
PEEK (ASTM D695) KT-820 SL30 13,300 (1,929) 191 (27.7)
KT-820 SL45 26,050 (3,778) 269 (39.0)
Compressive Compressive
Modulus, Yield Strength, Conclusions
Grade MPa (kpsi) MPa (kpsi)
The results from these two methods are different. The
KT-820 NT 4,140 (601) 118 (17.1)
unfilled grades are quite comparable, but differences
KT-851 NT 5,530 (802) 121 (17.6)
in strength and modulus can be observed in the fiber
KT-880 NT 6,190 (898) 123 (17.8) reinforced grades. As illustrated in Figure 3.25, the
KT-820 GF30 BG20 7,340 (1,060) 169 (24.5) specimens prepared from ISO bars have more highly
KT-880 GF30 BG20 12,000 (1,740) 183 (26.6) oriented fiber reinforcement than those prepared from
KT-820 CF30 13,960 (2,025) 173 (25.1) the ASTM prisms. In addition to more random fiber
KT-880 CF30 23,170 (3,360) 188 (27.3) orientation in the ASTM prisms, there is also a higher
possibility of the occurrence of weld lines.
KT-820 SL30 8,250 (1,200) 110 (15.9)
KT-820 SL45 9,570 (1,390) 127 (18.4)

26 \ KetaSpire® PEEK Design and Processing Guide