The "King" Of Plastics World-PEEK (Polyether ether ketone)

What is PEEK made of

PEEK (polyether ether ketone) is a high-performance thermoplastic used in a wide range of applications in the engineering, aerospace, food and beverage, and oil and gas industries.PEEK performs well in high-temperature, high-pressure environments.PEEK has a number of unique properties that make it one of the most commonly used polyketone polymers.

Properties and benefits of PEEK materials

PEEK is probably the closest thing to a preferred material for a variety of industries and applications. It offers considerable durability in harsh environments, and its glass and carbon reinforced grades are among the stronger of all thermoplastics at room temperature. In addition, unfilled grades of PEEK are highly resistant to most chemically aggressive environments, including high-pressure steam.

To fully appreciate the many valuable properties of PEEK, it has the following characteristics:

Extensive Processability - PEEK is easy to process and well suited for high volume commercial applications.PEEK components can be injection molded into extruded and injection molded billet shapes using high volume molds and stamped and processed from strip billets or films.PEEK's high molecular weight and melt stability allow it to be extruded into large cross-sections, such as rods larger than 200mm, plates up to 100mm and tubes with a wall thickness of 50mm.PEEK is one of the few high performance thermoplastics that can handle the extensive processing required to produce complex components.

High Wear Resistance - PEEK is known for its full range of wear resistance, including abrasion, friction and fatigue. In addition, with PTFE graphite and carbon fiber made of PEEK provides lower wear rates under high pressure speed conditions.

Excellent Thermal Properties - PEEK has high strength and temperature resistance and does not melt until it reaches approximately 343°C. It can be used at temperatures up to 250°C. It can also be used at temperatures up to 550°C. As a result, it can be used for long periods of time at temperatures up to about 250°C, and significantly higher for short-term use - far beyond the capabilities of most plastics.

Chemical resistance - PEEK has a wide range of chemical resistance, close to that of teflon or other PTFEs, but much stronger. This makes it a popular choice for chemical processing and oil and gas companies.PEEK can withstand prolonged exposure to acids, acetone, alcohol, ammonia, benzene, chlorine, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, gasoline, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, MEK, methylene chloride, ozone, pentane, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and toluene.

The reason why the use of PEEK is becoming more and more widespread, and product characteristics are inseparable. PEEK material is the main performance is as follows:

1, Temperature resistance, good thermal stability, ultra-high heat resistance, HDT at 315 degrees Celsius or more, UL continuous use temperature of 260 degrees Celsius.

2, Mechanical properties PEEK is both toughness and rigidity and balance of plastics. Especially its excellent fatigue resistance to alternating stress is the most outstanding of all plastics, comparable to alloy materials.

3, Self-lubricating PEEK in all plastics with outstanding sliding characteristics, suitable for strict requirements of low coefficient of friction and friction wear-resistant use. Especially carbon fiber, graphite each accounted for a certain percentage of mixed modified PEEK self-lubricating performance is better.

4, Chemical resistance (corrosion resistance) PEEK has excellent chemical resistance. In the usual chemicals, can dissolve or destroy it only concentrated acid and alkali, its corrosion resistance is similar to nickel steel.

5, Flame retardant PEEK is a very stable polymer, 1.45mm thick sample, without adding any flame retardant can reach the highest flame retardant standards.

6, Peeling resistance PEEK peeling resistance is very good, so can be made into a very thin coating or electromagnetic wire, and can be used in harsh conditions.

7, Irradiation resistance to high irradiation ability is very strong, more than the best general-purpose resins in the irradiation resistance of Polystyrene. Can be made into γ irradiation dose of 1100Mrad can still maintain good insulation ability of high performance.

8, Hydrolysis resistance PEEK and its composite materials are not subject to water and high-pressure water vapor chemical influence, with this material made of products in high temperature and high pressure water continuous use can still maintain excellent characteristics.

With the deepening of PEEK research, more and more properties to be found, while the application areas are also expanding, in recent years, PEEK materials are widely used in the medical field, with high-performance medical grade polymer materials PEEK to replace the inherent metal, ceramic, artificial joints, artificial joints to break the international monopoly of the high-end market situation.

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