Peek plastic injection molding8/15/2023 ![]() ![]() They are specially engineered plastics that are designed for very specific applications. PEEK plastics are not designed for every day or generic use. Many parts made from PEEK are found in environments where temperature or chemical exposure poses a problem. PEEK plastic is available in blocks, rods, powders, or pellets. ![]() PEEK plastic, also known as polyether ether ketone is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer. In today’s advanced world, engineered plastics such as PEEK are sought after to replace metals and increase the performance of certain parts. Its processability also makes it easier to fit into a project budget.Plastic has evolved tremendously since its first uses in society, and every day, new uses and modifications are discovered. Its manufacturability makes it suitable for prototypes, custom one-of-a-kind parts, or large production runs. Not only is PEEK known for its strength, low friction, chemical compatibility, and excellent wear properties, but it can also be used with several different manufacturing processes. Its primary drawbacks are lack of precision compared to injection molding and low production speed. It works very well with reinforced materials.Ĭentrifugal molding provides an excellent surface finish with limited tooling costs. It is well adapted to both short and long production runs. This manufacturing method can be used to make complex, hollow parts with thin walls and very low residual stresses. Centrifugal forces cause the polymer to be distributed evenly on the inside surface of the mold. Then the mold is rotated on multiple axes. The mold and polymer are heated to the point that the polymer is in a liquid state. In centrifugal casting (sometimes called rotational molding, centrifugal molding, or rotomolding), the molten polymeric material such as PEEK is placed into a mold and sealed. ![]() However, the precision is not as high as would be achieved with injection molding and it only works with parts that have a uniform cross-section. Production costs tend to be quite low, setup times are quick, and initial costs relatively low. Heated plastic is forced at high pressure through an open die. This is another commonly used manufacturing process for PEEK parts. Method 3: ExtrusionĮxtrusion is used to make polymer parts that have a constant cross-section, including tubes. Drawbacks are high tooling, the possibility of long lead times, and high costs. Benefits, from a production point of view, include a high production rate and low labor costs. Injection molding results in a part with a good surface finish and excellent dimensional accuracy. Injection molding is good for thin-walled parts and can produce complex parts with fine detail. Minimal post-processing is required, and usually takes the form of trimming of flash and excess plastic. After cooling and solidification the part (or parts) is removed from the die. In injection molding, molten plastic is injected (i.e., forced) at high pressure into a die. Injection molding is one of the most common processing methods for producing plastic parts, PEEK included. It cannot handle geometries with undercuts, however, and the processing time and part consistency are not as good as injection molding. Setup time is pretty quick, and the setup costs are relatively low. This process works very well for reinforced polymers and is a standard manufacturing method for making parts from PEEK.Ĭompression molding produces parts with a good surface finish. After the part has cooled, it is taken from the mold and flash is removed. The mold is closed under pressure and heated. In compression molding, a charge of plastic material is preheated and placed in a mold cavity. In this post, we are going to discuss four processing methods for manufacturing components from PEEK. One of the reasons it remains popular is its processability: PEEK is well adapted to a number of polymer processing techniques. PEEK has long been a highly regarded engineering polymer for an almost infinite variety of applications. ![]()
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