Effect of Water on the Thermal Properties of Polyetheretherketone

Thermogravimetric studies of the thermal stability of polyetheretherketone indicate the onset of thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of the polymer at temperatures of about 500°C. Pyrolysis gas chromatography makes it possible to detect the onset of destructive processes in polyetheretherketone much earlier, under the conditions of its extrusion processing. The paper presents the results of studying the effect of water on the thermal properties of unstabilized polyetheretherketone and the polymer stabilized by admixing the phosphorus-based antioxidant Hostanox P-EPQ. A relationship has been established between the stabilizer content and the resistance of polyetheretherketone to thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation and to thermal hydrolysis.