Sheet in PEEK LF CF30 3000x300 mm black

PEEK LF CF30 brings together two things that heavy plain bearings want: high load capacity and low friction. The carbon fiber carries the load. The low friction mix makes the surface glide dry against steel, and together they give one of the most load-resistant sliding grades in the entire PEEK family. The sheet takes 260 degrees continuously and short peaks toward 300 degrees, so it works where a lubricant would have burned away.

Compressive hardness is high, around 355 N/mm², among the highest in the range, and tensile strength is around 122 MPa. That means a sliding surface takes high surface load without being pressed in or deformed. The impact strength of about 62 kJ/m² is surprisingly good for a carbon-filled grade, so the material is not brittle despite the filler and takes some shock load. Density is about 1.38 g/cm³ and water absorption negligible, around 0.03 percent, so the part keeps its dimensions in moisture. The flammability rating is V0. The carbon fiber makes the material electrically conductive, so it leads static charge away instead of building it up. Thermal conductivity around 0.66 W/mK is high for PEEK, which helps carry frictional heat away from the sliding surface. That is a decisive advantage in heavily loaded bearings, since heat is what otherwise kills a dry-running sliding contact.

The sheet format is the stock for heavily loaded sliding components that you mill out of a block. Thrust bearings and bottom bearings with high surface load that run dry. Wear rails and guide rails in hot, heavily loaded lines where oil is not an option. Slide plates against steel where both load capacity and static dissipation are required at the same time, for example in equipment sensitive to discharges. Bearing parts in pumps and compressors that work without lubrication. The combination of high compressive hardness, low friction and good heat removal is the reason for choosing this grade over simpler sliding plastics. Where an ordinary sliding plastic would have worn out or melted from the frictional heat, LF CF30 holds.

The carbon fiber is abrasive against the tools. Run sharp carbide or diamond coated inserts, moderate feeds and speeds and good cooling, and expect more frequent edge changes than with unfilled material. The material mills and turns to fine tolerances and a hard, even surface that glides well straight away. Clamp the blank securely and avoid point load against thin sections. Thick blocks can be stress relieved before finish milling for the best dimensional stability. Drill in stages and clear the chips, and tap with the right tool, since the fibers do not forgive sloppiness.

It is the interplay between three properties that makes the grade strong in heavy bearings. The high compressive hardness keeps the surface from being pressed in under load. The low friction lets it glide easily without lubrication. And the good thermal conduction carries away the frictional heat that otherwise builds up in the contact surface and that is the most common reason a dry-running bearing fails. Together they mean the bearing can be run harder and longer than with a simpler sliding plastic before wear takes over. Creep under constant pressure is low, so preload and fit hold over time.

The conductive carbon fiber makes the part lead static charge away instead of building it up, which is valuable in equipment sensitive to discharges. The color is black all the way through. Keep in mind that the conductive property means the grade does not work as an electrical insulator, so if the part has to insulate instead, a glass-filled or ceramic-filled grade is what you should look at. A smooth, hardened steel counterface gives the lowest wear and the longest life for the sliding contact. Give the fit clearance for thermal expansion. If you are unsure whether the load really calls for this grade, we will help you work it out.

Electrically conductive LF CF30 in black, format 3000 x 300 mm, suits parts that have to lead static charge away and at the same time be stiff thanks to the carbon fiber.

Sheets come in several thicknesses and are cut to blanks per drawing, so material waste is kept down. Unsure whether a low friction grade or a plain sliding grade suits your load best? Describe surface load, sliding speed and temperature and we will choose the right PEEK grade for your bearing.