Properties and Benefits of PEEK Material

Jul 09, 2018 Material | PEEK

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a linear, aromatic, semi-crystalline polymer that exhibits excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Several grades of PEEK™ such as Virgin PEEK™, 30% Glass Filled PEEK™, 30% Carbon Filled PEEK™, and Bearing Grade PEEK™ are preferred for applications in demanding environments. PEEK rods, sheets, and machine parts are sought after for applications across industries. This post aims to discuss PEEK’s properties and benefits, which in turn helps you use the material wisely in applications.

Know About the Properties of PEEK Materials

The following table depicts the general mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of Polyetheretherketone.

Mechanical Property	Unit	450G	450GL30	450CA30
Coefficient of Friction		—	—	—
Flexural Modulus, 23Â°C	psi	594,500	1,450,000	2,900,000
Specific Gravity		1.32	1.49	1.44
Melt Flow Rate	g/10 min	3-3.5	1.2-1.5	1.2-1.5 0.48-0.56
Rockwell Hardness, R scale	R	126	124	124
Impact Strength, 23Â°C, Notched Izod	ft-lb/in	1.57	1.8	1.59
Water Absorption, 24 hr.	%	0.5	0.11	0.06
Elongation, 23Â°C	%	50	2.2	1.3
Tensile Strength, 23Â°C	psi	14,500	24,650	32,770

Thermal Properties
Melting Point	Â°C	340	340	340
Deflection Temperature (264 psi)	Â°C	160	315	276
Oxygen Index	%	24	—	—
Max. Service Temperature	Â°C	250	250	250
Thermal Conductivity	Btu-in/hr-ft2-F	1.75	0.43	0.24
Flammability		V-O	V-O	V-O

Electrical property
Surface Resistivity	ohm-sq	—	—	—
Volume Resistivity	ohm-cm	4.9 x 1016	—	—
Dielectric Strength (0.05 mil film)	KV/cm	190	—	—
Dielectric Constant, 21Â°C, 50 Hz-10 kHz		3.2-3.3	—	—
Dissipation Factor, 21Â°C, 1 MHz		0.003	—	—
Arc Resistance	sec	—	—	—

Benefits of Using PEEK Material

Thermoplastic PEEK offers exceptional performance over a wide range of temperatures. The following are a few other beneficial features of polyetheretherketone.

Excellent chemical resistance
Low moisture absorption
Good wear and abrasion resistance
High-temperature tenacity
Long lifespan
Excellent heat distortion properties
Low coefficient of friction
Good radiation resistance
Ease of processing
Environmentally friendly
Low flammability
Good resistance to hydrolysis
Resistance to thermal aging
Resilient when exposed to boiling water and hot steam
Very low smoke and toxic gas emission when exposed to flame

Typical Application Areas

Owing to the superb benefits and features of polyetheretherketone as aforementioned, the material is largely chosen for applications in marine, automobile, medical, food processing, defense, and oil and gas industries among others. A few examples of the parts manufactured using the material include:

Oil and vacuum pumps
Seals and supporting rings
Hydraulic valves
Gears
Thrust washers
switching jack
Plug connectors
Wafer carriers
Valve seats
Pump wear parts
Food contact parts

Having said the benefits and applications of thermoplastic PEEK, would you like to transform PEEK material into parts with strict specifications? There are several manufacturers who possess ample knowledge of working with the material, which enables them to produce parts to strict specifications to support the application equipment performance. SSP Manufacturing, Inc is one such leading manufacturers who have expertise in creating PEEK parts for filling equipment, pharmaceutical equipment, and lab work or other specific applications.