Sheet in PEEK Ceram 1000x1000 mm white

Ceramic filled PEEK in sheet form combines two things that rarely go together in the same material: high hardness and electrical insulation. The ceramic additive raises wear resistance and compressive hardness. At the same time the material stays insulating, with a specific volume resistivity around 10^14 ohm·cm, so it does not conduct current even though it is hard and dense. The sheet handles 260 degrees long term and short peaks toward 300 degrees.

The density is higher than for pure PEEK, around 1.65 g/cm³, since the ceramic filler is heavy. The ball indentation hardness is high, around 286 N/mm², which makes the surface resistant to pressure marks and abrasion. Tensile strength is around 105 MPa. Impact toughness of about 35 kJ/m² is clearly better than for many fiber filled grades, so the material is tougher and not as brittle, which means an edge takes a knock without chipping. Water absorption is negligible, about 0.03 percent, so the part keeps its dimensions in a damp environment. The fire rating is V0. Thermal conductivity around 0.38 W/mK is somewhat above unreinforced PEEK, which helps even out temperatures in the part. Chemically the resistance is broad against oils, acids, bases and hot water.

The sheet format is the blank for insulating and wear exposed parts you mill out of a block. Electrically insulating wear plates and guides in hot processes where a conductive part must not be present. Contact and support parts where the component has to insulate electrically and take mechanical abrasion over time. Bearing blocks and supports in equipment where conductive material would disturb measurements or create a short circuit. Measuring fixtures where a hard surface and insulation have to sit in the same part. The combination of hard and insulating is the reason you pick ceramic filled PEEK over the conductive carbon fiber filled version. If you want hardness but no conduction, this is the grade you are looking for.

During machining the ceramic filler wears hard on the tools, harder than both glass and carbon fiber. Use sharp carbide or diamond coated tools, moderate cutting data and plenty of coolant to keep the edge temperature down. Count on clearly more frequent edge changes than with pure PEEK and budget for it. The material mills and turns to fine tolerances and a hard, wear resistant surface. Clamp the blank firmly and let the finishing take a little extra time for the best surface finish. Drill in stages and clear the chips. Thick blocks can be stress relieved before finish milling so they hold their shape.

Wear resistance is the property that most often justifies the choice of a ceramic filled grade. Against abrasive mating surfaces the hard ceramic filler keeps the surface intact long after a softer plastic would have been ground down. In operation that means fewer replacements and longer intervals between maintenance. The material also creeps very little under load, so a part that has to carry constant pressure for a long time keeps its shape instead of slowly giving way. The combination of a hard surface and low creep makes the grade suitable where the part has to sit dimensionally stable for years.

The electrical insulation is what separates ceramic filled PEEK from the conductive carbon filled one. Here you can have hardness and insulation in the same part, something a carbon fiber filled grade does not offer. The color is typically light to gray-white depending on the filler content. Keep in mind that the high hardness means the tools need to be hard too, so diamond coated inserts pay off in the long run in series production. When bonding, the surface should be prepared, since PEEK takes adhesive reluctantly, and mechanical fastening is often preferable. If you are unsure whether the hardness is really needed or whether a glass filled grade is enough, we will help you weigh cost against function.

One thing to think about in the design is using the hardness where it does the most good. Put the wearing function on the surfaces that actually get worn, and save material and machining time on the rest of the part. Since ceramic filled PEEK is one of the more expensive grades, it pays to draw the part so you do not mill away more expensive material than necessary. Hollow Bar or sheets in the right thickness help keep the waste down.

The square 1000 x 1000 mm sheet in white ceramic reinforced PEEK suits insulating and wear exposed parts, where the white surface makes dirt and wear easy to see.

Ceram means ceramic reinforced.

Sheets come in different thicknesses and are cut into blanks to drawing. Does the part need both hardness and electrical insulation, or is another PEEK grade enough for your function? Describe the requirements and we will choose the grade together from load, temperature and electrical properties.