Effect of Fullerene (C₆₀) Nanoparticles on the Thermomechanical Behavior of Polyether Ether Ketone Matrix Composites

High performance thermoplastics like polyether ether ketone (PEEK) are becoming more significant in aerospace and advanced engineering applications since they are stable at high temperatures, resistant to chemicals, and have a good strength to weight ratio. However, next generation lightweight structural parts need to be even stiffer, stronger, and more thermally stable. This study examines the influence of fullerene reinforcement on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of PEEK composites manufactured via twin-screw melt compounding followed by injection molding. Tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied on nanocomposites with 0.2, 0.5, and 1 wt% fullerene. Findings indicate that low fullerene concentrations improve the efficacy of PEEK. At 0.5 wt% fullerene the tensile strength went up by 12.8% while Young's modulus also increased compared to pristine PEEK. SEM micrographs showed that for low filler ratios dispersion was uniform at the nanoscale. However, the addition of 1 wt% fullerene led to particle agglomeration and reduced microstructural uniformity thereby affecting mechanical performance. DMA results showed that adding fullerene enhances storage modulus and overall thermomechanical stability.