It is highly resistant to thermal degradation, as well as to attack by both organic and aqueous environments. The thermal conductivity increases nearly linearly with temperature between room temperature and solidus temperature. Some grades have a useful operating temperature of up to 250 ☌ (482 ☏). PEEK has a glass transition temperature of around 143 ☌ (289 ☏) and melts around 343 ☌ (662 ☏). Its Young's modulus is 3.6 GPa and its tensile strength is 90 to 100 MPa. The processing conditions used to mould PEEK can influence the crystallinity and hence the mechanical properties. PEEK is a semicrystalline thermoplastic with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance properties that are retained to high temperatures. The reaction is conducted around 300 ☌ in polar aprotic solvents - such as diphenyl sulfone. Typical is the reaction of 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone with the disodium salt of hydroquinone, which is generated in situ by deprotonation with sodium carbonate.

PEEK polymers are obtained by step-growth polymerization by the di alkylation of bis phenolate salts. The polymer was first developed in November 1978, initially being brought to the market in the early 1980s by the part of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) that became Victrex PLC. While PEEK does not have the lowest coefficient of dynamic friction, nor the lowest K factor of machinable plastics, it offers a high limiting PV coupled with outstanding thermal stability, making it suitable for high-performance bushings, bearings, and washers.Polyether ether ketone ( PEEK) is a colourless organic thermoplastic polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family, used in engineering applications. PEEK has a limiting PV value much higher than both UHMW and nylon. PEEK’s “K-factor” or resistance to wear, is between that of UHMW and bearing grade nylon, slightly more resistant to wear than UHMW.

PEEK has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion and experiences negligible thermal deformation at high operating temperatures. Plastic Machining Company’s master machinists and state-of-the-art CNC lathe machinery produce exceptional results for materials used for food processing, corrosion resistant, and high wear applications. Other applications range from large seals in hydraulic and pneumatic equipment systems to tiny hand-help high heat tweezers.

The facility also noticed a 3-decibel decrease in noise levels, easily noticeable to the human ear and increasing worker safety. In a recent trial, PEEK manufacturer Victrex™ claimed it saw a 9% increase in efficiency within automotive manufacturing conveying systems that utilized PEEK bearings. PEEK’s often pays for itself with these weight savings advantages leading to increased efficiency and longer part life. Even as a premium material, PEEK has a proven track record of reliably replacing specialty metals and materials that can cost up to ten times as much to service for same machinery or application and with a weight savings of up to 70% versus aluminum parts. We effectively utilize PEEK as a metal/stainless steel replacement in these harsh environments for weld washers, thrust washers, sleeve bushings and flange bushings, among others. In gas and steam industrial turbines, PEEK bushings reduce rotational friction and vibration, supporting loads able to turn at higher speeds without degradation and stand up to steam, hot water and the vast majority of corrosive chemicals. PEEK is, however, more brittle versus PTFE at these extremely low temperatures. PEEK excels in low-temperature environments as well, many times utilized in Arctic equipment for example both bearings and valve seals in Arctic wind turbines. PEEK exhibits superior mechanical and electrical properties with a maximum continuous working temperature of 480☏ to 500☏ and excellent retention of mechanical properties up to 570☏ in a steam or high-pressure water environment. Popular for high heat bushings and washers, PEEK plastic is a temperature-resistant semi-crystalline engineered machinable thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability. While UHMW, nylon, and acetal are the most utilized plastics for a wide variety of these applications, PEEK plastic offers additional benefits for specifically demanding applications, especially in corrosive and hot environments. PEEK plastic machining performed by Plastic Machining Company focuses on wear parts and power transmission components, generally in high heat applications.

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