How to Prepare PEEK
September 5th 2008 04:56 am By Web Development in India
PEEK (polyetheretherketone) is a type of thermoplastic that is supposed to be the most superior in its class. PEEK is basically an aromatic and semi-crystalline thermoplastic substance that bears a good resistance to wearing, and chemical attacks. It is very less toxic with very low flames. Its awesome electric characteristics make its need very important in a number of fields.
Processing of PEEK is a very tedious task. It is basically processed at a very high temperature of around 400C. At the same time it is also necessary that the parts are also capable of withstanding such immense temperatures. For this purpose, there are several options available that includes the most common one that is ceramic high heat bands.
PEEK parts are supposed to be crystalline. So to achieve this, the best way is to use mold. As the PEEK crystallizes, the colour is observed to change from being translucent to a solid crystal. It is vital to have the mold at appropriate temperature. If the mold is cooler than required, then the colour would still have that translucency and also the quality of the final product will not be the best. In a company, it is least required to compromise on the quality.
The molds to be used should be designed such that they could bear high temperature variations. The mold should also be capable enough to force the operations of all the parts correctly.
Insulators are a must in such a process. The resin also has to be perfectly dry to work as required and to achieve the expected end result. It is generally recommended to dry the resin at approximately 150C for 3-4 hours. Once you have analyzed the moisture content, you can put the resin to use.
PEEK, however, can be a little expensive affair. It is better to use 40% dry first pass regrind with unfilled PEEK and almost 15% with filled PEEK. Your safety is of prime importance in all the processes. While working with the mold, you should b very careful. Safety glasses, gloves and shields are used for such cases.
You should research on the topic before beginning to prepare your PEEK. Have a good knowledge about your resin supplier. Do not overlook the facts and the scientific theories regarding thermoplastics. With just a little knowledge and proper molding sense, you are sure to succeed without any problems.
Get more information on Peek Polyetheretherketone and Torlon.
