TECAPEEK® GF30 Rod

TECAPEEK® GF30 is polyetheretherketone reinforced with 30% glass fibre, supplied as rod and plate. The reinforcement raises stiffness sharply over unfilled PEEK, to a modulus of elasticity around 1,000,000 psi with tensile strength near 15,000 psi, pushes heat deflection temperature to about 600°F at 264 psi, and cuts thermal expansion to 1.2 x 10^-5 in/in/°F, close to some metals. Long-term service temperature is 500°F with short excursions to 572°F. It is inherently flame retardant at UL94 V-0, stands up to steam, hot water and aggressive chemicals, and creeps very little under sustained load at temperature.

Specify it for highly stressed structural parts at temperature rather than for sliding surfaces: pump and compressor components, valve seats and bodies, bearing cages, insulator blocks, back-up rings, fixtures and structural brackets in aerospace, oil and gas, chemical processing, semiconductor and food processing equipment. Stock is RoHS compliant. Machining calls for carbide or diamond tooling because the glass fibre is abrasive and tool wear is significant, and that same abrasiveness makes it a poor bearing choice against a soft mating surface, where unfilled or internally lubricated PEEK grades work better. Glass reinforcement also cuts elongation, so the material is notch sensitive and unforgiving of sharp internal corners.