PEEK (Polyarylethe-retherketone)
The Polyether-ether-ketone AKA Polyaryletheretherketone (PEEK™) materials are semi-crystalline, high purity polymers comprising of repeating monomers of two ether groups and a keytone group.
PEEK™ is a high-performance, semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer that has excellent mechanical properties maintained to high temperatures. The material is known to offer a unique combination of thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical properties. As a result of these properties it is is widely used in highly demanding engineering and medical applications.
With a melting point of approximately 343 °C (649.4 °F), PEEK™ stands out among thermoplastics for its high thermal stability. This elevated melting temperature allows it to be shaped through processes such as injection molding and extrusion
It belongs to the polyaryl-ether-ketone (PAEK) family of polymers.
Contents
1. History
2. Key Properties
2.2 Resistence to Chemicals
3. Chemical Structure of PEEK
4. Grades of PEEK Available
5. PEEK Products and Forms
6. Applications
7. Evolution of PEEK
8. About Victrex
PEEK™ was initially invented in 1977 at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in the UK with the first batch being produced on 19 November 1978 at ICI's Wilton site, located in Redcar, England. It was developed by ICI’s "Advanced Materials Division".
ICI filed a patent on PEEK™ that year and it was was first commercialised as "Victrex PEEK polymer" in 1981.
The initial production capacity was 1000 tonnes per year with the initial market being mainly in military & defense applications. The invention of PEEK™ marked a significant achievement in polymer chemistry due to the materials exceptional properties.
PEEK provides exceptional performance over a wide range of temperatures and extreme conditions, including chemical, wear, electrical and temperature resistance, as well as dimensional stability, mechanical strength, and numerous processing capabilities. It is often the material of choice when seeking a material that combine lightweighting with superior durability and often replaces metals and other polymers in applicated where failure rates are critical in the decision making process.
| Dilute Acid | Very Good |
| Dilute Alkalis | Very Good |
| Oils and Greases | Very Good |
| Aliphatic Hydrocarbons | Very Good |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Very Good |
| Halogenated Hydrocarbons | Very Good |
| Alcohols | Very Good |
For a more detailed look at the properties of PEEK™ please CLICK HERE
The chemical structure of PEEK™ is based on a repeating unit of aromatic rings linked by ether and ketone functional groups. It is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer with exceptional mechanical and thermal properties.
PEEK™ is available in a number of different grades and formats, including natural, filler-reinforced, wear performance, industry specific, and temperature enhanced grades. The choice of grade depends on the specific needs of the application, including strength, stiffness, wear resistance, temperature tolerance, and flow characteristics during processing:
- Unfilled Grades: Offers the highest elongation and purity.
- Glass-Filled Grades: Enhanced stiffness and dimensional stability.
- Carbon Fibre Reinforced Grades: Increased strength, thermal conductivity, and wear resistance.
- Wear Performance Grades: Incorporate PTFE, graphite, or carbon fibres for self-lubricating, wear-optimised performance.
- Industry Specific and Temperature Enhanced Grades: Suitable for specific applications.
PEEK™ is manufactured in a variety of forms to accommodate different fabrication and end-use requirements:
- PEEK™ Powders (for coatings and extrusion)
- PEEK™ Granules and Pellets (for injection moulding and extrusion)
- Pipes and Film
- Composite Tapes
- Filaments for 3D Printing
- Rods, Sheets, and Plates
- Machined Components and Parts such as seals, valves, bearings, bushings, and insulators
PEEK™ and PAEK-based solutions are often used in applications to replace metals, thermosets and other aerospace polymers. PEEK is used typically as a replacement for machined metals in a wide variety of high performance end-use applications. These range in diversity from components for cars, aircraft, industrial pumps, valves and seals, to silicon wafer carriers, connectors and sterilisable surgical instruments and in the medical implants market.
Some examples are below...
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Automotive In 2001 German manufacturer STE developed a new cylinder head gasket based on a powder coating process that combines the high performance properties of VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer with PTFE |
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| Future mobility PEEK is increasingly being used to enable future mobility (particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and other related technologies) |
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| Electronics PEEK™ polymer is the material of choice for a switching jack in a coaxial connector used in mobile telephones |
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| Industrial Greene Tweed a world leader in high technology sealing innovation has developed a labyrinth seal made with a carbon fibre reinforced PEEK™ polymer composite |
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| Aerospace PEEK™ polymer monofilaments for protective braiding have specifically been developed to protect the electrical and hydraulic cables used in aerospace and associated. |
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Medical Eclipse Dental Manufacturing has successfully replaced aluminium with PEEK™ polymer for the finger and thumb grips on a self aspirating dental cartridge syringe. |
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PEEK™ continues to evolve, with advances in additive manufacturing, reinforced composite technologies, and biomedical research expanding its potential. With sustainability and innovation driving material science, PEEK’s role in shaping the future of high-performance applications is only just beginning.
Victrex is the world's primary supplier of PEEK™ and the original commercialiser of the material. Victrex was specifically created to take PEEK™ from lab-scale innovation to global industrial and medical applications.
Formerly part of ICI, Victrex was bought by management in 1993, thereby establishing a new, independent company. Victrex plc was successfully floated on the UK stock exchange in December 1995 and today the company is recognised as an innovative, world-class high performance materials group.
From the invention of PEEK™ over 40 years ago, Victrex continues to pioneer new PAEK-based polymers, materials and solutions.
Victrex plc - company headquarters and site of its manufacturing facility - is located at Hillhouse International, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 4QD, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
