Residual stress of particulate polymer composites with reduced thermal expansion

Abstract
Thermal expansion behavior was investigated for tangusten zirconium phosphate (Zr2(WO4)(PO4)2 (ZWP)) particulate filled poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) composite. ZWP is known as ceramic filler with a negative thermal expansion. By incorporating ZWP with 40 volume %, the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the PEEK composite was reduced to almost same value (2.53 X 10-5 K-1) with that of aluminum. This decrease was found to be quite effective for the decrease of the residual stress at the interface between aluminum plate and the composite.