TECAPET® Rod

TECAPET® is a machining grade of PET polyester supplied as rod and plate. It is among the stiffest and hardest of the common unfilled engineering thermoplastics: tensile strength about 13,000 psi, tensile modulus near 470,000 psi and Rockwell M101 hardness, with better creep resistance and dimensional stability than acetal. Water absorption is 0.10% in 24 hours and 0.50% at saturation, so parts hold tolerance in humid and wet service. It slides and wears well against steel with low friction, machines to a fine finish, polishes easily and does not stain. Continuous service temperature is roughly 230°F, with short excursions to 320°F and a melting point of 490°F.

It is the usual pick when acetal is not stiff enough and PEEK is not warranted: precision gears, bearings, bushings, wear strips, guides, manifolds, pump and valve components, insulators and change parts for packaging, filling, textile, electronics and general machinery. Tracking resistance is high at CTI 600 V and flammability is UL94 HB; food-contact conformity to FDA and EU Regulation 10/2011 is available on qualifying grades. Machining is straightforward with sharp positive-rake tooling, though the material is notch sensitive, so avoid sharp internal corners and abrupt section changes. Polyester is vulnerable to hydrolysis, so keep it out of prolonged hot water, steam and strongly alkaline exposure.