Precision Ultem® PEI CNC Turning Part

PEI is the popular name for polyetherimide. It is one of the most common engineering plastics in the world. It has excellent strength, toughness and wear resistance. It can also be easily processed and can be used as various machine parts, such as electronics and motors. and aviation and other industries or used as metal substitute materials for traditional products and cultural daily necessities. So what are the advantages of using PEI special engineering plastics that can actually replace metals and have unique advantages over metals? What are the advantages and disadvantages of PEI as a processed part?

1. Performance of machined polyetherimide (PEI)

Polyetherimide (PEI) is famous for its high and long-term heat resistance, good thermal stability (long-term use temperature can reach 170°C), excellent mechanical strength and modulus, and outstanding electrical properties. , it can still remain basically constant over a wide temperature range (-40°C~150°C) and frequency range. In addition, using PEI materials without adding any additives, PEI has outstanding inherent flame retardancy, low smoke density and low heat release properties.

Polyetherimide (PEI) is usually produced: used to manufacture optical fiber connectors, which can optimize the component structure, simplify its manufacturing and assembly steps, and maintain more precise dimensions; it can also be used in the automotive field, such as manufacturing high-temperature Connectors, high-powered vehicle lights and indicators, sensors that control the temperature outside the vehicle cabin and sensors that control the temperature of the air and fuel mixture. The excellent properties make it an excellent candidate as a metal replacement.

2. Advantages of polyetherimide (PEI):

2.1 High mechanical strength, good toughness, high tensile and compressive strength.

Due to its high strength, flexibility and heat resistance, PEI is an excellent coating and film-forming material. It can form coatings and films suitable for the electronics industry and can be used to create apertures.

2.2 Heat resistance

Can be used for a long time at 160~180°C, oxygen limiting index is greater than 4.7, low risk

smoke and no need to add flame retardants. PEI has stable dielectric constant and dielectric loss and extremely high dielectric strength over a wide frequency and temperature range.

2.3 Hydrolysis resistance
PEI has good hydrolysis resistance. After being soaked in boiling water for 10,000 hours, the tensile strength remains above 85%. At a temperature of 270F, it can withstand repeated sterilization by high-temperature steam and the tensile strength remains unchanged after 2,000 steam hot pressure cycles. It is also resistant to inorganic acids and short-term resistance to strong alkali.

2.4 Self-extinguishing, odorless, non-toxic, chemical corrosion resistant, and creep resistant.

2.5 Excellent electrical performance.

Good electrical insulation stability over a wide range of environmental conditions, combined with thermal and mechanical properties, makes PEI resin an ideal material choice for demanding electronic and electrical applications.

2.6 Light weight, outstanding ductility, and easy to form.

PEI has both high strength and high modulus properties, as well as outstanding ductility. Its stretch allows for the freedom to combine with a variety of buckle-fit designs for easy assembly. Even with the addition of 10% glass fiber reinforcement, PEI can maintain its good ductility in the temperature range from subzero to 200°C. The flow speed is fast, injection molding is easy, the molding speed is also fast, the cycle is short, and the production efficiency is high.

3. Disadvantages of polyetherimide (PEI)

3.1 Contains BPA (bisphenol A), which limits the application of certain infant-related products of PEI;

3.2 Notch impact sensitivity, which is a challenge for design;

3.3 Although the acid resistance is outstanding, the alkali resistance is average, especially under heating conditions;

3.4 Application of polyetherimide (PEI)

PEI material is an engineering thermoplastic that is easy to process and can be used as a variety of mechanical final components. It is widely used in various applications such as electrical engineering parts, food industry parts, aircraft construction parts and many injection molded parts for vehicles and machinery. Processed parts such as ground glass joints for distillers operating at 180°C.