Properties of thermoplastic Fibre Metal Laminates (FML) - Titanium PEEK Interface

The properties of thermoplastic Fibre Metal Laminates (FML) composed of alternating stacked titanium foils and layers of carbon fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone (Ti/CF-PEEK laminates) are investigated. The adhesion between the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) matrix and titanium degrades by the influence of humidity. Physical, chemo-physical and chemical surface pre-treatments of the titanium layers were tested to improve the long-term behaviour of the interface. To compare the different surface treatments lap shear tests were conducted to determine the degradation of the initial strength by the influence of water. Concerning the physical pre-treatment the laser pre-treatment offers the highest magnitude of humidity resistance