Synergistic modified poly (ether ether ketone) with the transition layer constructed by graphene oxide grafted macromolecular

The development of composite materials that offer both high strength and toughness is of significant interest. However, these properties often require a trade-off, potentially compromising thermal properties. This study introduces GO and GO-CTS as toughening agents within a poly(ether ketone) (PEEK) matrix to address these challenges. The results show that the integration of chitosan-grafted GO nanosheets significantly enhances the toughness of PEEK composites without degrading their excellent strength and thermal characteristics. Specifically, GO-CTS/PEEK nanocomposites exhibited increases in fracture energy (G_IC), fracture toughness (K_IC), tensile strength, and flexural strength by 109.31 %, 35.59 %, 14.69 %, and 5.03 %, respectively. The enhanced toughening effect of GO-CTS is achieved with a lower content compared to GO, due primarily to its stronger interfacial interactions with PEEK. Furthermore, the PEEK, GO/PEEK, and GO-CTS/PEEK composites maintain excellent and comparable heat resistance. This study presents a promising approach for developing nanocomposites that maintain strength while improving toughness, enhancing interfacial interactions between nanosheets and the resin matrix, and offering valuable insights into this field.