PEEK is the abbreviation for polyetheretherketone, a high-performance thermoplastic special engineering plastic with the following characteristics and properties:
chemical structure
The main chain of PEEK molecules is composed of benzene rings, ether bonds, and ketone bonds, and this unique structure endows it with many excellent properties. The benzene ring structure provides rigidity and heat resistance, ether bonds increase the flexibility and processability of molecular chains, and ketone bonds help improve the crystallinity and mechanical properties of materials.
- Mechanical properties
High strength and high modulus: PEEK has excellent tensile strength and bending modulus, and its strength is comparable to that of metals. It can withstand large external forces and loads and can be used to manufacture components with high mechanical performance requirements, such as gears, bearings, etc.
Good toughness and impact resistance: In addition to high strength, PEEK also has good toughness and impact resistance, making it less prone to brittle fracture and able to maintain stable performance in complex stress environments.
Excellent wear resistance: The material has high surface hardness and outstanding wear resistance. After special treatment, its wear resistance can be further improved, making it suitable for manufacturing components that require long-term wear resistance, such as mechanical seals, piston rings, etc.
- Thermal properties
High thermal stability: PEEK has a glass transition temperature of about 143 ℃, a melting point of up to 334 ℃, and a thermal decomposition temperature above 500 ℃. It can maintain stable performance over a wide temperature range and can be used for a long time in high temperature environments.
Low coefficient of linear expansion: Its coefficient of linear expansion is close to that of metals, and under large temperature changes, the dimensional changes of the product are small, with good dimensional stability, which can ensure the dimensional accuracy and assembly accuracy of high-precision components.
- Electrical properties
Excellent electrical insulation performance: PEEK has excellent electrical insulation performance, low dielectric constant and dielectric loss, high volume resistivity, and can effectively prevent current leakage and short circuit phenomena. It can be used to manufacture insulation components, connectors, cables, etc. in electronic appliances.
Good arc resistance: PEEK material can maintain good insulation performance in high voltage and strong electric field environments, making it less prone to arc breakdown and improving the safety and reliability of electronic devices.
- Chemical properties
Outstanding corrosion resistance: PEEK has good resistance to most chemicals and can maintain stable performance in acid, alkali, salt solutions, and organic solvents. It is not prone to corrosion, dissolution, and other phenomena, and can be used to manufacture equipment components that come into contact with corrosive media in fields such as chemical engineering, food, and medicine.
Low moisture absorption: The moisture absorption rate is very low, and it is not easy to cause performance degradation or size changes due to moisture absorption. It can still maintain good performance and stability in humid environments, and can meet the requirements of some humidity sensitive application scenarios.
- Machinability
Good flowability: PEEK has a low melt viscosity and good flowability, which allows it to be molded under low pressure and processed into complex shaped products with a short molding cycle and high production efficiency.
Strong processability: Various products such as pipes, rods, films, fibers, etc. can be made through various processing methods such as injection molding, extrusion, compression molding, blow molding, etc., to meet the processing needs of different fields and products.
Biocompatibility
PEEK has good biocompatibility, is non-toxic, odorless, and has no allergic reactions. It does not cause irritation or rejection to human tissues and can be used to manufacture medical devices, artificial joints, dental implants, and other medical products.
flame retardant performance
PEEK has a certain degree of flame retardancy, and its combustion level can reach UL94 V-0 level. It can self extinguish when exposed to open flames and is not easy to spread combustion, improving safety during use. It is suitable for applications with high fire prevention requirements.
