PEEK (polyetheretherketone) is a high-performance specialty engineering plastic. Its core properties, including high-temperature resistance, high strength, chemical resistance, and biocompatibility, make it an ideal alternative to traditional metals and ordinary plastics. Despite its higher cost, PEEK Machined Parts reliability in extreme environments and long lifespan make it irreplaceable in fields such as medical, aerospace, and industrial precision components, making it a key material for high-end manufacturing.
Core Characteristics of PEEK(PEEK Parts)
1. Outstanding High-Temperature Resistance
• Long-term operating temperature: -50°C to 250°C (continuous use), short-term temperature resistance up to 310°C.
• Glass transition temperature (Tg): approximately 143°C (unreinforced), melting point (Tm): approximately 340°C.
• High-temperature performance stability: Minimal degradation of mechanical properties is observed even with long-term use at 250°C, far exceeding that of ordinary engineering plastics.
2. Excellent Mechanical Properties
• High Strength and Rigidity: Pure PEEK Sheet and PEEK Rod has a tensile strength of approximately 90-100 MPa and an elastic modulus of 3.6 GPa. After reinforcement, the strength can reach over 200 MPa, with a modulus approaching that of metal.
• Fatigue Resistance: Resistant to fracture under cyclic loading, with a fatigue life several times that of metal.
• Wear Resistance: Excellent self-lubrication and extremely low wear rate when rubbing against metal.
3. Strong Chemical Resistance
• Resistant to most organic solvents and weak acids/bases
• Soluble only in strong oxidizing acids such as concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid (requires high temperature and high pressure conditions);
• Excellent hydrolysis resistance, stable performance in high temperature and high humidity environments.
4. Biocompatibility and Safety
• Non-cytotoxic, non-sensitizing, and non-genotoxic;
• Elastic modulus (3.6 GPa) is close to that of human bone, making it less likely to cause bone degeneration after implantation (as opposed to high modulus implants);
• High-temperature and high-pressure sterilization-resistant, making it suitable for reusable surgical instruments.
5. Flame Retardancy and Radiation Resistance
• Flame Retardancy: Achieves UL94 V-0 rating without the addition of flame retardants. Low smoke emission (low smoke, non-toxic) during combustion makes it suitable for rail transit and aviation interiors.
• Radiation Resistance: Withstands gamma or X-ray radiation exceeding 10⁹ Gy, suitable for use in nuclear equipment or medical radiotherapy devices.
6. Good Processability
• Suitable for forming complex shapes through injection molding, extrusion, and machining;
• Wide processing temperature range (360-400°C), but thermal oxidative degradation caused by prolonged high temperatures must be avoided (inert gas protection or rapid cooling is required).
Considerations for PEEK CNC Machining
1. Material Pretreatment: Drying and Dehumidification
2. Strict Control of Processing Temperature and Time
3. Tool Selection and Machining Parameter Optimization
5. Post-Processing and Performance Verification
The core advantages of PEEK processing into finished parts lie in its four key attributes: adaptability to extreme environments, lightweight and high strength, biocompatibility, and design freedom. It is widely used in high-end manufacturing. However, the processing requires strict control of material drying, temperature/time parameters, mold design, tool selection, and post-processing to avoid defects and ensure performance. As PEEK processing technology matures, its application will further expand towards precision and miniaturization, making it a key material driving the advancement of high-end manufacturing.
