Molding of polyether ether ketone(PEEK)and its composites:a review

Over the last half-century,polyether ether ketone(PEEK)has emerged as a widely adopted thermoplastic polymer,primarily due to its lower density,exceptional mechanical properties,high-temperature and chemical resistance,and biocompatibility.PEEK and its composites have found extensive applications across various fields,including machinery,aerospace,military equipment,electronics,and biomedicine,positioning themselves as promising substitutes for traditional metal structures.Nevertheless,achieving optimal performance and functional molding of PEEK and its composites presents a formidable challenge,given their inherent characteristics,such as semi-crystallinity,high melting temperature,heightened viscosity,low dielectric coefficient,and hydrophobic properties.In this paper,we present a comprehensive review of the molding methods and processes of PEEK and its composites,including extrusion molding,hot compression molding,injection molding,and 3D printing.We also introduce typical innovative applications within the fields of mechanics,electricity,and biomedicine while elucidating methodologies that leverage the distinctive advantages of PEEK and its composites.Additionally,we summarize research findings related to manipulating the properties of PEEK and its composites through the optimization of machine parameters,process variables,and material structural adjustments.Finally,we contemplate the prevailing development trends and outline prospective avenues for further research in the advancement and molding of PEEK and its composites.

Multi-Material magnetic field-assisted additive manufacturing system for flexible actuators with programmable magnetic arrangements

Manufacturing flexible magnetic-driven actuators with complex structures and magnetic arrangements to achieve diverse functionalities is becoming a popular trend.Among various manufacturing technologies,magnetic-assisted digital light processing(DLP)stands out because it enables precise manufacturing of macro-scale structures and micro-scale distributions with the assistance of an external magnetic field.Current research on manufacturing magnetic flexible actuators mostly employs single materials,which limits the magnetic driving performance to some extent.Based on these characterizations,we propose a multi-material magnetic field-assisted DLP technology to produce flexible actuators with an accuracy of 200μm.The flexible actuators are printed using two materials with different mechanical and magnetic properties.Considering the interface connectivity of multi-material printing,the effect of interfaces on mechanical properties is also explored.Experimental results indicate good chemical affinity between the two materials we selected.The overlap or connection length of the interface moderately improves the tensile strength of multi-material structures.In addition,we investigate the influence of the volume fraction of the magnetic part on deformation.Simulation and experimental results indicate that increasing the volume ratio(20%to 50%)of the magnetic structure can enhance the responsiveness of the actuator(more than 50%).Finally,we successfully manufacture two multi-material flexible actuators with specific magnetic arrangements:a multi-legged crawling robot and a flexible gripper capable of crawling and grasping actions.These results confirm that this method will pave the way for further research on the precise fabrication of magnetic flexible actuators with diverse functionalities.