Materials from this polymer family are chemical compounds with ether and ketone groups. Compared to other plastics they have very high glass transition and melting temperatures, which makes them suitable for use in high-temperature applications.
PAEK materials are semi-crystalline aromatic polyether ketones with excellent mechanical properties even at high temperatures. The continuous operating temperatures can be up to 260°C. They are flame-retardant and possess high chemical resistance, hydrolysis resistance, high stiffness and strength, as well as very good tribological properties.
Areas of application:
Due to their long service life, components made of PAEK polymers are used in industrial environments, for example for high-performance molded parts such as bearing cages, gears or impellers in pumps and high-pressure systems, especially where aggressive media are present. In the medical sector biocompatible materials are used to manufacture sterilizable medical devices or patient-specific implants. On the one hand they are more economical; on the other they bypass the side effects that metal implants can bring, such as weather sensitivity. The aerospace industry also uses this inherently flame-retardant material as a metal substitute for interiors and air conditioning components.
