PEEK components are injection molding in high volume tooling equipped with hot runner systems, machined from both extruded and injection molded stock shapes and even stamped and machined from thin strip stock or film. Great processability – PEEK’s ease of processing has contributed to its wide acceptance in high volume commercial applications.Twenty percent (20%) PTFE filled PEEK (FE20) offers a lower coefficient of friction and improved wear rates over unfilled PEEK Unfilled PEEK provides superior fatigue resistance and good wear resistance as well, provided the maximum stress and velocity are low. PEEK that is alloyed with PTFE graphite and carbon fiber provides low wear rates at high pressure-velocity conditions in even abrasive environments. PEEK’s properties provide resistance to abrasive and fatigue wear, and it is a naturally low friction material. Friction is the resisting force against motion, and though it isn’t “wear,” it is problematic nonetheless. Fatigue wear refers to material deformation resulting from repeated pressure and stress. Of course, “wear” is a general term, and requires further explanation.Ībrasive wear refers to cutting action caused by the countersurface’s irregularities. Superior wear resistance – Few polymers can match PEEK in terms of well-rounded wear resistance.This broad resistance is a primary reason why PEEK is so ubiquitous, as it can be adapted for nearly any application. And that’s just a fraction of the substances PEEK is resistant to. Some of the chemicals it can withstand include most acids (the only exceptions are hydrofluoric and hydrobromic), acetone, all alcohols, ammonia, benzene, chlorine, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, gasoline and most fuels, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, MEK, methylene chloride, ozone, pentane, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and Toluene. Formidable chemical resistance – Unfilled PEEK offers broad chemical resistance that approaches that of PTFE but with far greater strength, which is why it is a favorite choice for chemical processing and oil and gas companies.This inherent characteristic can be compensated for through reinforcements and chemistry modifications. PEEK’s glass transition temperature or softening temperatures is close to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It is useful at temperatures up to nearly 500 degrees Fahrenheit long term and far higher short term, which is well beyond what most polymers are capable of. Excellent thermal properties – Unfilled PEEK offers high strength and excellent resistance to high temperatures, and will not melt until it reaches about 650 degrees Fahrenheit.What is it about PEEK that makes it a natural fit for so many engineering applications? Regardless of the specific chemistry it is the polyketone chemical structure that makes PEEK so formidable in so many environments. This PAEK family covers a number of different compositions with different ratios of ether groups to ketone groups, the most common of which is PEEK. Put simply, it refers to the chemical structure of the polymer although most polymer scientists identify PEEK as being part of the broader family of ketone polymers called polyarylether ketones (PAEKs). PEEK is short for polyether ether ketone, which doesn’t make sense to many other than those with a strong chemistry background. Today Solvay is the only US-based producer of PEEK resin. Name recognition still favors the Victrex brands but others led by Solvay’s Ketaspire PEEK are gaining both volume and market share each year. Others including Solvay entered PEEK resin production in the early 2000s after Victrex PLC’s patent rights expired so today end users and specifiers have no shortage of PEEK resin grades from which to choose. Glass and carbon reinforced grades are among the strongest of all thermoplastics at room temperature and unfilled grades are highly resistant to some of the most chemically aggressive environments including high-pressure steam.įirst introduced by Victrex PLC, then ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) in the early 1980s it has been gaining use for nearly 40 years. It is known for its impressive durability in punishing environments. PEEK is a workhorse – perhaps the closest to a perfect material that is utilized in a wide range of industries and in a variety of applications.
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