PEEK, or Polyether Ether Ketone, is a strong plastic widely used in manufacturing. It is known for its excellent strength and heat resistance. Many fields use PEEK, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and electronics.
This blog post examines PEEK’s key features and explains why it is a preferred material for many challenging applications.
What is the history of PEEK, and how is it made?
Polyether ether ketone, or PEEK, is a strong plastic used in many industries. It was developed in the late 1970s by researchers at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in the United Kingdom. They aimed to create a plastic that could handle harsh chemicals and high temperatures. PEEK was patented in 1978 and began commercial use in the 1980s.
Several steps are involved in making PEEK. First, manufacturers mix raw materials called aromatic dihalides and aromatic diones and heat them to about 300-400°C. This process allows the materials to react and form the polymer. Once the polymer cools, it solidifies into forms like sheets, rods, or pellets for parts made with injection molding.
PEEK is well-known for its ability to resist heat and chemicals. It can withstand temperatures up to 260°C and is resistant to most solvents, acids, and bases. This property makes it an excellent choice for aerospace, automotive, medical, and oil and gas fields.
As technology improves, PEEK’s uses and production methods may change. However, its history and development are essential to understanding its value.
What are the mechanical properties of PEEK?
PEEK is a high-performance plastic known for its strong mechanical properties. Here are some key mechanical properties:
High Tensile Strength
Its tensile strength is approximately 90-100 MPa, making it a high-strength and durable material well-suited for demanding applications where robustness and resilience are essential.
Excellent Wear Resistance
It exhibits fantastic wear resistance, making it ideal for situations where friction and abrasion are significant concerns. This quality also ensures PEEK’s longevity and reliability in challenging environments.
High Impact Resistance
Due to its high impact strength, it can withstand sudden impacts and shocks. As a result, it does not break or crack, ensuring durability under stress.
Outstanding Fatigue Resistance
It demonstrates excellent fatigue resistance and maintains physical properties even under cyclic loading conditions, making it suitable for long-term use.
Dimensional Stability
Because of its low coefficient of thermal expansion, PEEK maintains exceptional dimensional stability across a wide temperature range. Making it excellent for applications requiring precise and stable dimensions under varying temperature conditions.
Which industries use the material?
The aerospace and automotive industries recognize the benefits of PEEK. This lightweight, strong material is ideal for parts like bearings, bushings, gears, and structural components. PEEK resists heat, chemicals, and wear, allowing it to perform well in harsh environments. This durability helps ensure the reliability and safety of critical systems in these industries.
Aerospace and Automotive
The aerospace and automotive sectors have long recognized the benefits of PEEK. Its lightweight yet durable nature and exceptional heat, chemicals, and wear resistance make it ideal for bearings, bushings, gears, and structural parts. The material’s ability to withstand extreme environments ensures the reliability and safety of critical systems in these industries.
Medical and Dental
PEEK is a popular material in the medical and dental fields because it is safe for the body and does not appear on X-rays. Its applications are implants, prosthetics, and orthopedic devices. PEEK provides strong, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant options for patients. Its inert quality makes it a good choice for medical tools and equipment.
Oil and Gas
The oil and gas industry often works in extreme conditions, demanding materials that can handle high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive environments. PEEK is a strong choice because it resists heat and chemicals well. Its applications include seals, bearings, and valves in drilling, exploration, and production operations.
Electrical and Electronics
PEEK is an excellent material for the electrical and electronics industries because it insulates well and resists electrical arcing. It is used in connectors, insulators, and circuit breakers to ensure reliable performance and safety in electrical applications.
What are the benefits of using PEEK for your project?
PEEK, or Polyether Ether Ketone, is a strong plastic that works well for demanding tasks. It resists high temperatures and chemicals, making it suitable for challenging environments. PEEK is known for its strength, stiffness, and stability, which means it will perform reliably in demanding situations. With Prototek’s skills in PEEK manufacturing, you can count on your project to benefit from this remarkable material.
Are you ready to start your project?
FAQs
Polyether Ether Ketone is a high-performance thermoplastic with exceptional mechanical and thermal properties.
The aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial equipment industries all use PEEK due to its exceptional thermal and chemical resistance.
Various finishing options include polished, matte, and textured surfaces.
