PEEK Polymers
Revolutionizing Machinability and Medical Applications
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has become a game-changer in both industrial and medical fields due to its excellent properties and versatile applications. Known for its good machinability, it can be easily processed by turning, milling, grinding, and other techniques, offering precise tolerance control. Its inherent resistance to high temperatures, creep, hydrolysis, and exceptional dimensional stability makes it a prime choice for advanced engineering and medical-grade materials.
Key Features of PEEK for Industrial Applications:
- Machinability: it can be easily turned, milled, and planed, making it ideal for precision-engineered parts such as PEEK rods, sheets, and tubes.
- High Temperature Resistance: Withstanding extreme temperatures without deformation.
- Creep Resistance: Maintains shape under prolonged stress.
- Dimensional Stability: Ensures accuracy in applications requiring tight tolerances.
- Hydrolysis Resistance: Prevents degradation in wet environments, maintaining longevity.
PEEK Medical Applications:
PEEK polymers made significant strides in healthcare, especially in orthopedic and surgical implants. Its elastic modulus, closely matching that of human cortical bone, led to its adoption for medical implants starting in the 1980s, particularly for trauma and plastic surgery.
Product Features:
- Biocompatibility: it shows high compatibility when implanted, with no risk of rejection.
- Elastic Modulus: Its similarity to human bone reduces stress shielding, promoting faster healing.
- Imaging Compatibility: Safe for MRI scans with no artifacts in post-operative imaging.
- Customizability: PEEK is easy to process, enabling high-precision, patient-specific implants.
- Comfort and Safety: Its durability, resistance to deformation, and low thermal conductivity make it reliable for implants in variable environments.
Applications in Medical Devices:
PEEK is a versatile polymer, used in sternum fixation straps, connectors, and 3D printing applications for medical devices. Its superior properties enable efficient processing methods such as injection molding and extrusion, contributing to personalized medical solutions.
Certifications:
- ISO 9001:2015: Demonstrates commitment to quality management.
- ISO 13485:2016: Certified for medical device quality management.
- ASTM F2026-17: Meets the standards for PEEK used in surgical implants.
Conclusion:
PEEK polymers are revolutionizing both industrial and medical fields with their robust, versatile, and biocompatible properties. Whether you’re looking to create precision-engineered parts or custom medical implants, PEEK’s unique attributes make it the perfect material.