FIBERS AND POLYMERS, cilt.6, sa.3, ss.206-218, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
Structural studies of series of 'as spun' and drawn PEEK fibers have been carried out using X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy techniques. The analysis of results suggest that fibers produced at a constant draw ratio with increasing draw temperatures show enhanced orientation and crystalline behaviour. The resolved equatorial and meridional traces provide additional structural parameters in terms of crystallinity, crystallite size, and crystallite thickness. It is concluded that drawing at a temperature below T-g (i.e., 144 degrees C) results in poorly oriented non-crystalline materials, whereas drawing above Tg results in highly oriented semicrystalline materials. Additional drawing proved to increase the overall orientation with slight improvements in lateral order of the chain molecules. Quantitative analysis revealed that the crystallite size increases with increasing drawing temperature. The results also revealed the increased crystallite size upon additional drawing. Crystalline orientation parameter,