Omar Khalid
PEEK, or Polyether Ether Ketone, is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer with exceptional mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. It is widely used in manufacturing due to its strength, stiffness, and stability, even in harsh conditions. PEEK is one of the few plastics compatible with ultra-high vacuum applications, making it suitable for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and electronics. Its unique properties also make it ideal for 3D printing and complex design geometries. With its high heat resistance and ability to withstand demanding applications, PEEK is a versatile and valuable plastic in various industries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Polyether Ether Ketone |
| Colour | Beige |
| Tensile Strength | 90 to 100 MPa |
| Young's Modulus | 3.6 GPa |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 143 °C (289 °F) |
| Melting Point | 343 °C (662 °F) |
| Operating Temperature | Up to 250 °C (482 °F) |
| Continuous Use Temperature | Up to 338°F (170 °C) |
| Heat Deflection Temperature | Over 300°F |
| Thermal Conductivity | Increases nearly linearly with temperature between room temperature and solidus temperature |
| Chemical Resistance | Resistant to steam, water, seawater, and a wide range of cleaning chemicals |
| Electrical Conductivity | Electrically insulating |
| Recyclable | Yes |
| Applications | Aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, semiconductor, oil and gas, food and beverage processing |
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What You'll Learn
- PEEK plastic's strength, stiffness, and stability make it reliable in harsh conditions
- It is fully recyclable but complex to recycle due to its high-performance characteristics
- PEEK is one of the few plastics compatible with ultra-high vacuum applications
- It is machinable in its solid state and can be CNC milled
- PEEK is used in a wide variety of applications, including bearings, valves, pumps, and seals
PEEK plastic's strength, stiffness, and stability make it reliable in harsh conditions
PEEK stands for Polyether Ether Ketone, a beige-coloured organic thermoplastic polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family. PEEK plastic is a high-performance engineering plastic with exceptional strength, stiffness, and stability. Its strength and stiffness are retained at high temperatures, making it suitable for continuous use at temperatures up to 338°F (170°C). Some grades can even operate at temperatures up to 250°C (482°F).
The stiffness of PEEK plastic is one of its key advantages. It can maintain its stiffness at elevated temperatures, making it ideal for demanding applications. PEEK plastic is also available in various grades, such as glass-fiber-reinforced and carbon-fiber-reinforced, which offer enhanced properties. For example, glass-fiber-reinforced PEEK has improved electrical and thermal insulation characteristics, while carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK has the highest strength and stiffness properties, along with outstanding wear resistance.
The strength of PEEK plastic is another notable feature. It has excellent mechanical strength, with a Young's modulus of 3.6 GPa and a tensile strength of 90 to 100 MPa. This high tensile strength allows PEEK to be machined like a metal, making it suitable for precision machining in industries such as oil and gas. PEEK plastic also has high chemical resistance, with outstanding resistance to harsh chemicals, steam, water, and seawater. It is also resistant to thermal degradation and attack by organic and aqueous environments.
The stability of PEEK plastic is essential for its reliability in harsh conditions. It has excellent dimensional stability, ensuring that parts made from PEEK plastic maintain their shape and dimensions even under demanding conditions. PEEK plastic is also resistant to weathering and corrosion, further enhancing its stability in challenging environments. Additionally, PEEK plastic has low thermal conductivity, which is advantageous in certain applications, such as fused filament fabrication (FFF) printing, where it is used to thermally separate the hot and cold ends.
Overall, the strength, stiffness, and stability of PEEK plastic make it a reliable choice for demanding applications in harsh conditions. Its high-performance capabilities and resistance to high temperatures, chemicals, and degradation make it suitable for industries such as aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and chemical.
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It is fully recyclable but complex to recycle due to its high-performance characteristics
PEEK stands for Polyether Ether Ketone, a high-performance engineering thermoplastic polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family. It is used in engineering applications and is known for its exceptional properties, including high strength, stiffness, and creep resistance. PEEK plastic is widely used in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, chemical, and medical. It is ideal for demanding applications due to its high-temperature resistance, chemical resistance, and low wear and tear.
While PEEK plastic is fully recyclable, it is complex to recycle due to its high-performance characteristics. Its complex production process and high price restrict its use to demanding applications. The processing conditions used to mould PEEK influence its crystallinity and mechanical properties. Its high thermal stability allows it to withstand high temperatures without melting or deforming, making it suitable for high-temperature applications. However, this high thermal stability also contributes to the complexity of recycling PEEK plastic.
Specialised companies have developed advanced automation technology and efficient processes to recycle PEEK plastic. These companies understand the importance of minimising the environmental impact of this complex plastic. They utilise recycled PEEK plastic in various products, such as outdoor signs, glazing, aircraft canopies, skylights, automotive parts, and medical devices.
The recycling process for PEEK plastic involves decontamination, cleaning, and converting plant scrap into clean, cost-saving raw materials. This process improves the purity of the recycled PEEK polymer, ensuring no cross-contamination occurs. The recycled PEEK polymer can then be used to create new products, reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills.
Overall, while PEEK plastic is fully recyclable, its high-performance characteristics and complex production process make it challenging to recycle. However, with specialised recycling technologies and a growing awareness of environmental sustainability, efforts are being made to recycle and repurpose PEEK plastic, contributing to a more circular economy.
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PEEK is one of the few plastics compatible with ultra-high vacuum applications
PEEK, or Polyether Ether Ketone, is a high-performance polymer with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance properties. It is one of the few plastics compatible with ultra-high vacuum applications, making it a popular choice for various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and chemical.
The compatibility of PEEK with ultra-high vacuum applications is due to its unique properties. PEEK has a low outgassing rate, which means it releases minimal gases when exposed to high temperatures. This is a critical factor in vacuum systems, as outgassing can compromise the vacuum seal and affect the performance of the system. PEEK also has a high resistance to thermal degradation, with a glass transition temperature of around 143°C (289°F) and a melting point of 343°C (662°F). Some grades of PEEK can even operate at temperatures up to 250°C (482°F) or higher.
The processing conditions used to mould PEEK can impact its mechanical properties, including its tensile strength and Young's modulus. PEEK is available in different grades, such as glass-fiber-reinforced and carbon-fiber-reinforced, which offer enhanced characteristics for specific applications. For example, glass-fiber-reinforced PEEK has improved electrical and thermal insulation properties, while carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK exhibits exceptional strength and stiffness.
PEEK's high temperature resistance, strength, and chemical inertness make it an ideal material for vacuum fasteners and seals. In vacuum systems, fasteners and seals must withstand high temperatures, pressures, and corrosive environments while maintaining a vacuum-tight seal. PEEK's low outgassing rate and resistance to chemical attack ensure that it can maintain the integrity of the vacuum system. Additionally, PEEK's lightweight nature makes it a favourable alternative to metal fasteners, reducing weight without compromising performance.
The versatility and performance characteristics of PEEK have led to its widespread adoption in various industries. PEEK is used in medical implants, automotive components, aerospace parts, and chemical processing equipment. Its compatibility with ultra-high vacuum applications further expands its utility, particularly in demanding and harsh environments where traditional materials may falter.
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It is machinable in its solid state and can be CNC milled
PEEK stands for Polyether Ether Ketone, a beige-coloured organic thermoplastic polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family. It was invented in 1978 and brought to market in the early 1980s by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). PEEK is a high-performance polymer with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance properties that are retained at high temperatures. It is also highly resistant to thermal degradation and has a low rate of wear and tear.
Due to its high temperature and tensile strength, PEEK plastic machines more like a metal than a polymer. While this makes it difficult and costly to process through methods like injection moulding, PEEK is readily machinable in its solid state by CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines. CNC milling is a manufacturing process that combines the traditional milling manufacturing method with a computer. It uses a cutting tool mounted on a rotating spindle to selectively remove material from a block of raw substrate (known as a blank or workpiece). The workpiece is rigidly mounted to a table, and this table moves or rotates on different planes so the tool can work at many angles.
CNC milling machines are versatile and can be used in a variety of applications. They are particularly effective in creating complex 3D shapes and are commonly used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and medical. The process begins with a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) model, which is then converted into a CNC program and set up in the CNC machine. The CNC program contains coded instructions that direct every move that the machine makes to replicate the CAD design in the chosen material. The CNC milling machine follows the program line by line to make the piece as instructed.
CNC milling machines can work with a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites. They are commonly used to produce high-quality plastic parts that are thermostable and both electrically and thermally insulating. Filled grades of PEEK can also be CNC machined, but special care must be taken to properly manage stresses in the material.
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PEEK is used in a wide variety of applications, including bearings, valves, pumps, and seals
PEEK, or Polyether Ether Ketone, is a polymer used in a wide variety of applications, including bearings, valves, pumps, and seals.
Bearings
KMS manufactures plastic radial ball bearings from PEEK plastic because it has excellent chemical and water resistance properties. PEEK offers similar chemical and water resistance to Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) but can operate at higher temperatures. It can be used continuously up to 338°F (170°C) and in hot water or steam without any permanent loss of physical properties. PEEK plastic bearings are also lightweight, at about a fifth of the weight of steel bearings.
Valves
PEEK is used in the construction of valves for its compatibility with aggressive media. For example, the Model STV-K-1 isolation valve features a molded PEEK valve body and PTFE isolation diaphragm materials. The Model series RVA Isolation Valve is a miniature rocker-style isolation valve suitable for a wide range of manifolds designed for in-vitro diagnostic, analytical, and laboratory instruments.
Pumps
Someflu manufactures corrosion-resistant centrifugal pumps made of PEEK, which are used to transfer acids and aggressive fluids. All the parts of the pump in contact with the fluid are made of thick resin in PEEK: volute casing, impeller with an over-molded insert, cover, shaft sleeve, and cartridge. Someflu also offers a prototype chemical process pump, the NP series, which can be equipped with single or double mechanical seals.
Seals
PEEK is also used in the creation of seals for its material properties, benefits, and applications. For example, its unique combination of high-performance properties makes it ideal for demanding applications.
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Frequently asked questions
PEEK stands for Polyether Ether Ketone. It is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer known for its strength, stiffness, and stability.
PEEK plastic is known for its exceptional mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. It can handle high temperatures, resist chemicals, and has excellent wear resistance. It is also fully recyclable, although the process is complex due to its high-performance characteristics.
Due to its unique properties, PEEK plastic is used in a wide range of demanding applications across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, oil and gas, and food and beverage processing. It is used to fabricate items such as bearings, piston parts, pumps, electrical cable insulation, medical implants, and more.
