Enkidu PEEK
Material Information
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is an aromatic thermoplastic polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family, used in engineering applications.
PEEK is a semicrystalline thermoplastic with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance properties retained at high temperatures.
It is highly resistant to thermal degradation and attack by organic and aqueous environments. It is attacked by halogens, strong acids, halogenated compounds, and aliphatic hydrocarbons at elevated temperatures. It dissolves completely in concentrated sulfuric acid at slightly elevated temperature.
Because of stiff aromatic polymer backbone, PEEK is one of the few extreme temperature resistant materials, allowing it to be employed at temperatures as high as 250°C.
PEEK is used to fabricate items used in demanding applications, including bearings, piston parts, pumps, HPLC columns, compressor plate valves, and cable insulation. It is one of the few plastics compatible with ultra-high vacuum applications.
Even though PEEK material grades are often viewed as one of the most expensive high-performance thermoplastics, experienced users can understand the added value that PEEK material grades offer by due to the possibility of manufacturing parts that are lighter, stronger, and able to endure longer periods under harsh conditions.
PEEK Compounds
PEEK can be easily modified via blending with various fillers (carbon, graphite, lubricant, minerals, etc.) and reinforcements (carbon fibre, glass fibre, etc.) to improve mechanical, thermal and tribological properties.
Fillers include:
- Decrease coefficient of friction
- Increase wear resistance
- Increase PV limit
- Boost tribological behaviors
- Increase wear resistance
- Decrease high temperature creep
- Increases property retention beyond 150°C
- Reinforces and improves mechanical properties
- Lighter in weight when compared against glass fibre
- Higher strength
- Good elasticity
- Decrease high temperature creep
- Increases property retention beyond 150°C
Pigments can also be added to PEEK compounds to help separate similar elements visually. This is particular useful in Food processing sector.
Processing Methods
Enkidu PEEK compound is available as a powder suitable for a variety of processing methods including:
Thermoforming
Fiber Spinning
Composites Moulding Techniques:
Prepreg moulding, AFP and ATL
Injection Moulding
Extrusion
Compression Moulding
Welding
Coating
3D Printing
Unique Properties and Characteristics
- Operates through a wide range of temperatures: Depending on application requirements and loading conditions, PEEK could be used up to 240-250°C as continuous use temperature.
- Tribological properties: Excellent wear and surface properties: Around 50% of applications are because of its wear and other surface properties. PEEK is normally blended with additives for applications demanding good wear and other surface properties.
- Very good fatigue resistance.
- High dimensional stability
- High creep resistance
- Ideal material for metal replacement applications mainly because of outstanding corrosion resistance, strength, durability, wear resistance and high-temperature stability.
- Maintains its properties in extreme and hostile conditions: PEEK is being used in nuclear environments, Oil and geothermal wells, chemical industries, and high-pressure valves.
- Lightweight, cost-effective, and completely recyclable
- Food grade approval: With food grade approval PEEK materials find their application in the food processing industry mainly as bearings and seals for food processing equipment.
- Outstanding hydrolytic stability
- Resistance to gamma and X-rays
Limitations of PEEK:
- Opaque material may not be a material of choice where transparency is required.
- Very expensive
- Very high processing temperature. PEEK materials are processed at around 380-420°C demanding high-end processing equipment.
- PEEK is a very hard material and could be aggressive against soft mating components in tribological applications.
- Poor microwave resistance at high temperature
