Sheet in PEEK+PTFE 3000x620 mm blue

Sheet in PEEK+PTFE is the PEEK family answer to the applications where friction is the problem. By blending PTFE into the PEEK matrix you get a plastic that keeps the temperature resistance and chemical resistance of PEEK, but where the sliding coefficient sits noticeably lower than for pure PEEK. It is a self lubricating material that takes the load without binding.

The service temperature is 260 degrees continuous and 300 degrees for shorter exposure. The fire rating is V0, the water absorption only 0.03 percent. The tensile strength is around 96 MPa and the ball indentation hardness around 205 N/mm². The impact toughness is 46 kJ/m², which means the sheet handles both knocks during assembly and dropped tools without cracking.

Mechanically PEEK+PTFE is a compromise where the PTFE phase lowers the hardness somewhat compared with pure PEEK, but opens the door to dry running applications that would not have worked otherwise. The wear volume in PV operation is very low, and the material shows no stick-slip tendency. That means the movement stays even at low speeds and high surface loads, which is decisive for precision positioning and stable sealing.

Sheet as a format is the raw material for milled parts, wear rails, slide strips, bearing shells and sealing washers. You saw out blanks and mill them down to finished components, or cut gaskets with a water jet. Typical uses are wear surfaces in pump and compressor designs, slide plates in high temperature ovens, dry running bearing shells, guide rails in the transport automation of semiconductor production, and sealing rings in valves for the chemical process industry.

In medical technology PEEK+PTFE goes into components that have to take repeated autoclaving and at the same time work against a sliding surface without lubrication. In aerospace and defense the material is found in hydraulic components where both fire rating V0 and low friction are necessary. The energy industry uses it in valve parts for steam, hot oil and process gases.

Machining is conventional. You mill with sharp carbide tools, feed calmly and avoid letting the chip stay in the cutting zone. The PTFE phase can smear at too high a cutting speed, so keep the cutting edge sharp and change it when needed. Drilling, tapping and cutting work without preheating. Mechanical fastening is done with screw joints or press fitting; bonding requires special surface activation, since the PTFE content gives low surface energy.

When choosing the sheet format you think in thickness, length and width. The thickness follows from the finished wall thickness of the part plus a machining allowance for face milling on both sides. Length and width are chosen so that you get as many blanks as possible with minimal waste, and so that starting positions and fixture points fit within the sheet.

Need help working out a suitable dimension, or choosing between PEEK+PTFE and another glide optimized grade? Get in touch with load, speed and temperature.

The widest blue PEEK+PTFE in 3000 x 620 mm lays out the most sliding parts per sheet, with the friction lowering PTFE right through the material.