1. What is PEEK?

PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) is a high-performance specialty engineering plastic belonging to the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family. Known for its high-temperature resistance, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and wear resistance, it is considered the plastic with properties closest to those of metal.

PEEK is often used to replace metal or high-cost alloys in many extremely demanding applications and is a core material in industries such as aerospace, medical, and automotive.

Ii. Main Performance Characteristics

High-temperature resistant

  ・The continuous operating temperature can reach up to 250℃

  ・Short-term temperature resistance exceeds 300℃

Uitstekende mechanische eigenschappen

  ・The tensile strength is between 90 and 100 MPa

  ・High strength and high rigidity, it can remain stable even at high temperatures

Chemical corrosion resistance

  ・It is almost unaffected by oils, acids, alkalis and organic solvents

  ・Only highly concentrated strong oxidizing acids (such as sulfuric acid) can cause corrosion

Wear-resistant and self-lubricating

  ・Low coefficient of friction

  ・It is commonly used in moving parts such as gears, bearings and sealing rings

Flame retardant performance

  ・Natural flame retardant, UL94 V-0

  ・No additional flame retardants are needed

Electrical performance

  ・It can still maintain good insulation even in high-temperature and high-humidity environments

Iii. Common Application Fields

Aerospace: Replacing metals to manufacture lightweight components

Automobielindustrie: Engine compartment, transmission components, reducing weight while improving fuel efficiency

Medical devices: Implants (spinal fixation, dental), high-temperature resistant and sterilized surgical instruments

Petroleum and natural gas: Pipelines, valves, seals, high-temperature resistant and corrosion-resistant

Electronic and electrical: insulating parts, connectors, cable sheaths

Iv. Processing Methods

PEEK can be processed through various techniques:

  ・Injection molding (suitable for mass production)

  ・Extrusion molding (rods, tubes, films)

  ・Compression molding

  ・Precision machining (CNC, processing high-precision parts)

V. Market Value of PEEK

As a high-end engineering plastic, PEEK is much more expensive than general-purpose plastics.

  ・Unit price range: 200-500 RMB/kg (depending on the brand)

  ・Representative suppliers: Victrex (UK), Solvay (Belgium), Evonik (Germany)

✨ In a nutshell: PEEK is the "high-performance king" in the plastic industry and is often used as a lightweight alternative to metals and ceramics in extremely demanding scenarios.

Vi. Comparison of Engineering Plastics

Vii. Characteristics of Molecular Structure

PEEK is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, and its molecular chains include:

  ・Aromatic ring → provides high thermal stability

  ・Ketone group (-CO -) → provides strength and rigidity

  ・Ether bond (-O -) → increases flexibility and toughness

This makes PEEK possess both rigidity, toughness and chemical resistance.

Viii. Common Modification Types

Pure PEEK: High purity, widely used in medical and electrical fields

Glass fiber reinforced PEEK (GF30) : Higher rigidity and strength, suitable for structural components

Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CF30) : High strength, wear resistance and electrical conductivity, it is often used in aviation and oil and gas equipment

Self-lubricating PEEK (containing PTFE/ graphite /MoS₂) : Lower friction and longer service life

Ix. Market Trends and Prospects

Growth drivers

  ・The lightweight demands of aerospace and automotive electrification

  ・Medical implants and high-end surgical instruments

  ・The demand for miniaturization and high-temperature resistance in the electronic and electrical industry

  ・The Asian market (China, India, South Korea, Japan) is growing rapidly

Main challenges

  ・High price and great processing difficulty

  ・Specialized equipment has high requirements

  ・Competition from low-cost substitutes

  ・Fluctuations in raw material and energy costs

Future trends

  ・Costs are expected to be gradually optimized

  ・More customized modified grades (high thermal conductivity, medical grade, bio-based) have emerged

  ・3D printing is growing rapidly in PEEK applications

  ・The requirements for sustainable development and recycling have been raised

X. Summary

PEEK is not merely plastic; it serves as a bridge connecting metals and polymer materials. Although it is expensive and difficult to process, it has become an irreplaceable strategic material in the high-end manufacturing field. With the acceleration of the trends of lightweighting, personalization and environmental protection, PEEK will continue to expand its application territory in the next decade.