Being an organic polymer, PEEK is used in various engineering applications. The processing conditions applied to mold PEEK can easily influence crystallinity by enhancing the mechanical properties. The modulus is about 3.6 GPa. They are also tensile, and their glass transition temperature is up to 143 degrees Celsius.
PEEK is resistant to degradation as well as organic attacks. The material is attacked by different halogens coupled with solid acids and halogenated compounds. It dissolves in sulfuric acid. Following its robust look, the PEEK machining is applied in fabricating various items utilized in demanding applications, such as piston parts, compressor plate valves, cable insulation, and HPLC columns.
PEEK is majorly used in:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Chemical process industries
- Medical industry
1. Automotive industry
PEEK is a workhouse and capable of pushing various environments with much ease. The carbon-reinforced grade is a rigid polymer even when subjected to room temperature. PEEK is known for its easy processability coupled with workability. For that reason, it can easily be machined to precision.
With tons of grades to select from, including glass and carbon fiber, PEEK is ideal for the oil and gas sectors within the aerospace industry. Ideally used for its chemical inertness, PEEK is known to have some threshold level when it comes to withstanding pressure exerted by machines.
2. Medical industry
Machined medical parts are easily made by various specialists in different medical machine shops. The shops should have the capacity to make the parts tight tolerant. There is also the need to focus on highly bio-safe as well as biocompatible materials. These are some of the essential elements a PEEK machining shop should have.
That said, machine shops are capable of machining technical resources to make medical parts. Items such as implants need tight tolerances as well as precision machining. Because of the precision, speed, and versatility, CNC machining is essential to the PEEK processes.
3. Chemical process sectors
Choosing the right partner in your machining processes can help you mold the PEEK devices while bringing shopping convenience. You can always mold the PEEK and the non-PEEK materials without leaving the environment dirty. In some cases, a vendor can instruct you to ship a product elsewhere. That is, outside the country. In the process, you may need to inspect other vendors with the same machining systems.
4. Aerospace
As PEEK ages, its high performance offers perfect to use in the aerospace sector. The aircraft has a metallic myth that is not easy to dispel. However, PEEK-based composites are quickly dispelling this fact. Invented in 1987, the PEEK material is part of high-performance polymers. It was soon identified as an emerging polymer with colossal potential. Victrex undertook its commercialization. As of today, over 30,000 aircraft rely on PEEK-based solutions for acoustic blankets and brackets.
Final Thoughts
PEEK has a high melting point of more than 600 degrees Celsius. It efficiently operates under high temperatures without deforming. Its hardness will allow it to run to a rather high-load temperature and environment. On matters of strength, PEEK’s components are derived from the standard choice for clutches and sensors.
