Peek, also known as polyether ether ketone, is an advanced high-performance injection molding plastic. It has a wide range of applications including automobile gears, oil screens and shift start disk; aircraft engine parts, automatic washing machine runners, and medical equipment parts.
However, the material can pose some challenges when it comes to injection molding. These include silver streaks near the gate and uneven cooling rates in the product.
Benefits
PEEK is a high-performance polymer with exceptional strength and ductility. It is also a great choice for medical, automotive and defense & public safety applications. It can be machined and injection molded for a variety of components, including bushings, medical implants, gears, gaskets, and other parts.
Peek is resistant to abrasion and corrosion, and it resists extreme temperatures. It is also resistant to vibration and impact, making it an excellent material for bearings, seals, and other components. This makes it ideal for applications in harsh environments.
Peek can be injected into conventional injection molding machines, but they must be equipped with special features to handle the temperature changes associated with this polymer. This includes good temperature control, big gates, and clean dry raw materials. In addition, a PEEK mold should be designed for fast cycle times to avoid production delays. This is particularly important for first-time injection molders. PEEK can be difficult to process due to its higher melting point than regular plastics.
Applications
PEEK is a polymer that has several applications and advantages. It is commonly used in medical and industrial equipment, including surgery tools and implants. This material has excellent chemical and corrosion resistance, and it is also very durable. It can withstand high levels of wear and tear, which can reduce maintenance costs.
The material is a good electrical insulator and retains its mechanical properties at high temperatures. It is also self-lubricating, making it ideal for use in industrial machinery. It can replace metals in a number of special applications, including aerospace and automotive components, electrical and electronic machinery parts, and medical instruments.
Peek injection molding requires specialized machines to ensure a smooth process. These must have good temperature control and big gates. The mold cavities must also be clean and dry. This will avoid problems like cold material defects, silver streaks, porosity, and warpage. The best tensile strength results are achieved when the injection pressure, injection speed, and injection temperature are balanced.
Costs
As a high-performance polymer, peek requires processing temperatures that can be above the melting point of other plastics. This makes it critical to use equipment that is dedicated to molding PEEK plastic, or at least that can be cleaned thoroughly before running other materials. Otherwise, residues from lower-melting plastics degrade during the injection molding process and cause dark specks that ruin the appearance of the finished product. It is also important to dry pellets of PEEK plastic before processing them. This can be done by placing them in trays that circulate in an oven for 2-3 hours. This will reduce the amount of moisture that is absorbed during the injection molding process.
Process
Peek is a high-performance polymer that has good mechanical properties. It can be used in a variety of applications, from medical to aerospace and machinery. It can withstand sterilization treatment using gamma and UV radiation, which is important for medical equipment. It also has good weather resistance.
Injection molding is a common manufacturing method for plastics. However, injection molding of peek requires specialized equipment because of its high processing temperatures. To avoid defects, it is important to follow injection molding design guidelines.
Peek has a lower melting point than most other plastics, so it is important to use a clean machine when working with it. Any contamination in the machine can cause black specs in the final product. It is also important to keep the temperature controlled. This can be done by using a bigger gate, and cleaning the nozzle and screw regularly. It is also a good idea to dedicate the injection machine to PEEK only.