Bearing Cage PTFE Vs PEEK Bearing Cage

November 01, 2024

Bearings, PEEK Bearing Cage

PEEK bearing cages, with high temperature resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, self-lubricating and other characteristics of the advantages, and metal materials compared with light weight, low noise, etc. PEEK has the thermoset plastics, heat resistance, chemical stability, and thermoplastic molding and processing of thermoplastics, PEEK long-term use of the temperature of 260-280℃, the short-term use of the temperature can be up to 330 ° C, and high-pressure resistance to 30 MPa. 30MPa, is a good material for high temperature seals.PEEK products are suitable for use in a variety of working conditions under harsh environments.PEEK also has good self-lubricating, easy to process, stable insulation, hydrolysis resistance and other excellent properties, making it in the aerospace, automotive manufacturing, electrical and electronic, medical and food processing and other fields have a wide range of applications.PEEK materials due to the unique advantages of the performance, and so the PEEK products can be widely used in petrochemical, electrical and electronic, instrumentation, machinery and automotive, medical and health, aerospace, military nuclear energy and many other fields.

Bearing cage is an important part of the bearing, mainly used to support and guide the ball or roller to realize the smooth running of the bearing. The material of the cage has an important influence on the performance and life of the bearing. At present, the main materials commonly used for bearing cages are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK). In this paper, a detailed comparison of these two materials will be analyzed.

Performance Characteristics

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene): Polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon, is a fluoroplastic. It has excellent chemical stability and is resistant to most acids, alkalis, salts and other chemicals. In addition, PTFE has excellent sliding properties and a low coefficient of friction, enabling it to maintain good performance in both high and low temperature environments. However, PTFE has relatively low strength and poor abrasion resistance.

PEEK (polyether ether ketone): Polyether ether ketone is a high-performance thermoplastic. It has excellent mechanical strength, abrasion resistance and high temperature resistance.PEEK can maintain good performance in high and low temperature environments, and its abrasion resistance is much better than PTFE.In addition, PEEK also has good chemical stability and electrical properties. However, PEEK is relatively expensive and difficult to process.

Scope of application

PTFE: Due to its excellent corrosion resistance and low coefficient of friction, PTFE bearing cages are widely used in low-noise, low-friction equipment in chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. Meanwhile, PTFE bearing cages also have a wide range of applications where medium loads and speeds are required.

PEEK: PEEK bearing cages are mainly used in equipment with high loads, high rotational speeds or need to operate in high temperature environments. For example, high-end bearing equipment in aerospace, petrochemical, new energy and other fields. In addition, due to PEEK's excellent wear resistance and high temperature resistance, its bearing cages are also suitable for high-speed power tools and electric bicycles and other personal consumer goods field.

Cost and Maintenance

PTFE: Compared to PEEK, bearing cages made of PTFE are less expensive and easier to maintain. This is mainly due to the relatively low price of PTFE raw materials, and processing technology is relatively simple.

PEEK: Because PEEK is a high-performance polymer, its raw material costs are higher and its processing is more complex, resulting in a relatively high cost for its bearing cages. However, due to its excellent performance, the long-term use of the cost may be better return.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) are both excellent bearing cage materials with their own advantages and disadvantages. When selecting a cage material, comprehensive consideration needs to be made based on specific application scenarios and needs.

If you need to withstand large loads and impacts, and have high requirements for mechanical strength and wear resistance, then PEEK is a better choice. If it needs to work in extreme temperature environment, and has high requirements for chemical stability and low coefficient of friction, then PTFE is a better choice. PTFE can be considered as a cage material when budget is limited.

Author:

Ms. Tina

E-mail:

sales@honyplastic.com

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+86 18680371609