Round Rod in PAI C 152.4 mm green

The round rod in PAI C is raw material for the turner who works in the top layer of engineering plastics. Polyamide-imide is a material that holds together when other plastics soften, age or start to creep under load. The cast version gives you large diameters with an even property picture right through, which is decisive for components where the material is to perform no matter where in the rod the part is taken from.

Mechanically PAI is among the stiffest and strongest engineering plastics available. It keeps a significant part of its strength even at very high temperatures, and creeps minimally under constant load. The thermal expansion is low compared with ordinary thermoplastics, which makes the material reliable in combination with metal parts. Chemically PAI takes fuel, oils, hydraulic fluid and most organic solvents without breaking down. Against ionizing radiation and over long service times the material also holds up better than most alternatives.

The rod is used where the part is to sit for a long time in a tough environment. Seals and piston rings in compressors and pumps, plain bearings in heavy machines, cams and guide rollers in high speed mechanics, insulators in semiconductors and electronics, and structural components in aircraft and vehicle engines are classic uses. PAI is often chosen as a direct replacement for metals where a lighter, insulating or corrosion free part is wanted.

Turning requires you to adapt to the material. Sharp carbide, a moderate cutting speed and good cooling are fundamental. PAI is harder and tougher than most plastics, and the wear on the inserts is noticeably greater. Count on more frequent insert changes and plan the chip control so that the chips do not pack and build heat in the cut. For components with tight tolerances the part is post cured according to the schedule from the supplier, which both stabilizes the dimensions and raises the final strength.

PAI is not a material you choose first. It costs noticeably more than standard polyamides and demands more of the workshop in machining. But where the operation sets demands that POM, PA or even PEEK cannot meet, PAI is often the solution that lets a plastic component hold up where a metal would have needed complicated surface treatments and seals.

Rod diameters run from the needs of precision mechanics up to coarse blanks for larger bushings and rollers. Cutting is done to drawing or in standard length, depending on what suits your planning best.

Are you in doubt between PAI C and a high performing PEEK grade? Get in touch and we will compare strength and cost against your concrete application before anything goes into the order. This product, PAI C 152.4 mm green, has a 4 mm diameter, which decides what spaces it fits into. The green version of PAI C 152.4 mm green makes visual sorting easier and suits appearance sensitive environments. Use PAI C 152.4 mm green in lightweight applications where corrosion resistance and electrical insulation are valuable.