Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a high polymer composed of one ketone bond and two ether bonds in the main chain structure, which is a special polymer material. With high temperature resistance, chemical corrosion resistance and other physical and chemical properties, it is a kind of semi-crystalline polymer material, which can be used as high temperature resistant structural materials and electrical insulation materials, and can be prepared with glass fiber or carbon fiber composite reinforcement materials. A polyaryl ether polymer obtained by condensation with aromatic diphenol is generally used. This material has numerous applications in aerospace, medical devices (as artificial bone to repair bone defects) and industrial fields.

(PEEK Raw Materials)

1. Performance overview
PEEK as the most important product of polyaryl ether keones, its special molecular structure gives the polymer high temperature resistance, excellent mechanical properties, good self-lubrication, easy processing, chemical corrosion resistance, flame retardant, peel resistance, radiation resistance, stable insulation, hydrolysis resistance and easy processing and other excellent properties, is currently recognized as the best thermoplastic engineering plastics.

1) High temperature resistance
The glass transition temperature of common PEEK polymer materials and blends is usually 143 ° C, the melting point is 343 ° C, the thermal denaturation temperature is as high as 335 ° C (ISO75Af, carbon fiber filled), and the continuous use temperature is 260 ° C (UL746B, unfilled).
2) Wear resistance
The common PEEK polymer material has excellent friction and wear resistance, especially the wear-resistant modified friction grade, which shows excellent wear resistance in a wide range of pressure, speed, temperature and contact surface roughness.
3) Chemical corrosion resistance
The corrosion resistance of common PEEK polymer material is similar to that of nickel steel, and it has excellent corrosion resistance in most chemical environments, even in high temperature environments.
4) Fireproof light smoke and non-toxic
The common PEEK polymer material is very stable, 1.5mm sample, without adding flame retardants can reach the UL94-V0 grade. The composition and inherent purity of this material allow it to produce only very small amounts of smoke and toxic gas in the event of a fire.
5) Hydrolysis resistance
Common PEEK polymers and blends are resistant to chemical attack by water or high pressure steam. Parts made of this material maintain a high level of mechanical properties under continuous use in water at high temperatures and pressures.
6) Excellent electrical performance
Common PEEK polymeric materials maintain good electrical performance over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures.

In addition, PEEK polymer material also has high purity, environmental protection, easy processing and other characteristics.

2. Research and production status

Since its launch, PEEK has been widely used in aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, industrial, semiconductor and medical fields.
1). Aerospace
Aerospace is the earliest application field developed by PEEK, and the particularity of the aviation field usually requires flexible processing, low processing cost and lightweight materials that can withstand harsh environments. PEEK can replace aluminum and other metal materials in the manufacture of various aircraft parts because of its exceptionally strong, chemically inert and flame retardant properties, and it is easy to process into parts with small tolerances.

Inside the aircraft, successful cases include wire harness clamps and pipe clamps, impeller blades, cabin door handles, insulating covering films, composite fasteners, cable ties, wire harnesses, corrugated casings, etc.; externally, there are radar radomes, lifters, etc. Drop frame hub cover, manhole cover, fairing bracket, etc.

In addition, PEEK resin can also be used to make rocket battery slots, bolts, nuts and rocket engine parts.

(Aircraft made of PEEK material)

2) Automobile industry
At present, the automobile industry increasingly requires the dual performance of minimizing vehicle weight and cost and maximizing product performance, especially people's pursuit of automobile comfort and stability, and the corresponding air conditioners, electric windows, airbags and ABS braking systems The weight of other equipment is also increasing day by day. Utilizing the advantages of PEEK resin such as good thermodynamic properties, friction resistance, low density and easy processing to make automotive parts, the processing cost is greatly reduced. It can not only reduce weight by up to 90%, but also ensure a long service life. Therefore, PEEK is used as Substitutes for metallic stainless steel and titanium are used in the manufacture of engine inner covers, automotive bearings, gaskets, seals, clutch rings and other components. They are also widely used in automotive transmission, braking and air conditioning systems.

(Automotive parts made of PEEK)

3) Electronics industry
PEEK has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, low volatilization, low extraction, low moisture absorption, environmental protection and flame retardant, stable size, flexible processing, etc. It is widely used in electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, circuit boards, printers, light-emitting diodes, batteries, switches, connectors, hard drives and so on.

(E&E parts made of PEEK)

4) The energy sector
Selecting the right materials is often seen as one of the key factors for successful development in the energy industry, and PEEK has become increasingly popular in the energy sector in recent years to improve operational performance and reduce the risk of downtime associated with component failure.

PEEK's own high heat resistance, radiation resistance, hydrolysis resistance, self-lubrication, chemical corrosion resistance and excellent electrical properties, etc., are increasingly used by the energy industry, such as submarine integrated wiring harness pipes, wire and cable, electrical connectors, underground sensors, bearings, bushings, gears, support rings and other products. It is used in oil and gas, hydropower, geothermal, wind power, nuclear energy and solar energy fields.

(PEEK is in the petrochemical industry)

5) Other
In the machinery industry, PEEK resin is commonly used to make compressor valves, piston rings, seals and various chemical pump bodies and valve parts. By using the resin instead of stainless steel to make the impeller of vortex pump, the wear degree and noise level can be significantly reduced, and the service life can be extended. In addition, because PEEK resin meets the specifications of pipe parts materials, it can still be bonded with various adhesives at high temperatures, so modern connectors will be another potential application market.

The semiconductor industry is moving toward larger wafers, smaller chips, and narrower lines and linewidth sizes, and PEEK polymer materials have obvious advantages in wafer manufacturing, front-end processing, processing and inspection, and back-end processing.

In the medical industry, PEEK resin can withstand up to 3,000 cycles of autoclaving at 134 ° C, which makes it suitable for the production of surgical and dental equipment with high sterilization requirements and repeated use. PEEK resin can show high mechanical strength, good stress resistance and hydrolysis stability under the conditions of hot water, steam, solvents and chemical reagents, and can be used to manufacture a variety of medical devices requiring high-temperature steam disinfection. PEEK not only has the advantages of light weight, non-toxic, corrosion resistance, but also the closest material to the human bone, which can be organically combined with the body, so the use of PEEK resin instead of metal to manufacture human bone is another important application in the medical field.