PEEK Material: Properties, Applications & Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei’s High-Performance Solutions

As "lightweighting" becomes a global manufacturing priority,PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), a high-end material once monopolized by the aerospace and medical device industries, is stepping into the spotlight. Driven by the development of humanoid robots, 800V new energy vehicles, and domestic substitution of high-end equipment, PEEK has evolved from a "high-performance material" to one of the key basic materials for the new round of industrial upgrading. 

Reinforced Toughened Polyamide 6 Resin, a core modified product, and PEEK materials from Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei Plastic Co., Ltd. are leading the domestic substitution trend. As a professional fiber glass reinforced nylon manufacture, Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei has also made breakthroughs in PEEK polymerization and modification technologies, providing reliable localized solutions for global industries.

1. What Is PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) Material?

PEEK is a semi-crystalline aromatic high-performance special engineering plastic, first developed by the UK’s Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1978, initially used in military applications with an annual output of only 400 tons. In 1993, ICI was acquired by Victrex (UK), which expanded PEEK’s application to civilian high-tech fields and increased its production capacity. Chemically, PEEK’s molecular chain consists of alternating ether bonds, ketone groups, and benzene rings, endowing it with excellent comprehensive performance.

Pure PEEK has limitations in meeting diverse industrial needs, so modification is essential—including blending, copolymerization, composite reinforcement, filling, nano-modification, and surface modification. Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei optimizes PEEK’s properties (such as wear resistance and impact strength) through professional modification technologies, expanding its application scope, reducing costs, and improving processability.

2. Core Performance Characteristics of PEEK Material

PEEK’s outstanding performance makes it irreplaceable in high-end fields, and Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei’s PEEK products fully retain these advantages while optimizing targeted properties:

- Mechanical Performance: High strength (tensile strength ≥100MPa), high modulus (flexural modulus up to 3.5GPa), good toughness (elongation at break ≈20%), and excellent wear resistance—its wear rate is only 1/10 that of traditional metal materials in high-load friction scenarios.

- Heat Resistance: Long-term service temperature up to 250℃, glass transition temperature (Tg) ≈143℃, melting point (Tm) ≈343℃, and excellent thermal stability (performance decline ≤5% after 1000 hours of continuous use at 200℃).

- Chemical Corrosion Resistance: Resistant to most inorganic acids, alkalis, and organic solvents; mass change rate ≤0.5% after 1000 hours of immersion in 10% hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide solution.

- Lightweight Advantage: Density only 1.3g/cm³, far lower than traditional metals, making it an ideal solution for lightweight and "plastic instead of steel" applications.

- Biocompatibility: Non-toxic and non-irritating to human tissues (cytotoxicity Grade 1), suitable for medical implant applications.

3. Processing Methods of PEEK Material

PEEK can be processed in multiple ways, and Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei provides professional processing guidance to match its high-performance materials:

- Injection Molding: Processing temperature 360-400℃, melt flow rate 0.5-2.0g/10min, low shrinkage (0.5-0.8%), suitable for complex and high-precision parts (e.g., new energy vehicle sensor housings). Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei’s PEEK materials have optimized fluidity, reducing injection difficulty.

- Extrusion Molding: Processing temperature 340-380℃, high production efficiency, suitable for pipes, plates, and films (e.g., electronic device insulation films).

- Other Methods: Mechanical processing (precision up to ±0.01mm), 3D printing (processing temperature 380-420℃), and welding (ultrasonic or hot-melt welding, strength up to 80% of the base material).

4. Key Application Fields of PEEK Material

Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei’s PEEK materials are widely used in aerospace, medical devices, automotive manufacturing, and electronics, tailored to industry-specific working conditions:

- Aerospace: Used in engine blades, wing skins, and hydraulic system parts, reducing component weight by 30% while maintaining strength (e.g., applied in domestic large aircraft C919).

- Medical Devices: Applied in artificial joints, spinal implants, and dental implants, with a service life of over 20 years, meeting strict biocompatibility standards.

- Automotive Manufacturing: Suitable for 800V new energy vehicle engine parts, transmission gears, and sensor housings, withstanding high temperatures and reducing wear (service life over 10 years).

- Electronics: Used in 5G device shielding parts and flexible circuit board insulation layers, with excellent high-temperature resistance and electrical insulation.

5. PEEK Modification & Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei’s Product Advantages

Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei focuses on PEEK modification, launching multiple high-performance grades to meet diverse needs:

- Glass Fiber/Carbon Fiber Reinforced PEEK: Tensile strength up to 200MPa (carbon fiber reinforced), widely used in aerospace and high-performance automotive parts.

- Conductive PEEK: Added with carbon black or graphene, surface resistivity as low as 10²Ω/sq, suitable for electronic shielding and medical electrodes.

- PEEK Alloys: Blended with PES or PTFE to optimize corrosion resistance or self-lubrication, applied in chemical and automotive fields.

6. Advantages, Disadvantages & Market Status of PEEK

Advantages: Excellent comprehensive performance, good processability, lightweight, and biocompatibility. Disadvantages: High cost, high processing temperature requirements, and poor weather resistance. Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei reduces production costs through technological breakthroughs, promoting domestic substitution of PEEK.

Globally, the PEEK market is dominated by Victrex, Solvay, and Evonik, with a 2024 scale of approximately 1 billion US dollars. In China, the market scale is about 200 million RMB, growing at 15% annually. Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei is accelerating the pace of domestic PEEK development, moving from "substitution" to "surpassing," and gaining global recognition.

As a professional fiber glass reinforced nylon manufacture and PEEK solution provider, Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei’s high-performance PEEK materials and Reinforced Toughened Polyamide 6 Resin are helping global manufacturers overcome technical bottlenecks. Whether for aerospace, medical, or automotive applications, Qingdao Zhongxinhuamei provides customized localized solutions, empowering the new round of industrial upgrading.