PEEK — highest-performance engineering thermoplastic. Continuous service to 250 C. Excellent chemical resistance. For aerospace, medical implants and semiconductor equipment.
Standards
| Standard Body |
Designation |
Country |
| ISO |
PEEK (ISO 13588) |
International |
| EN |
EN ISO 13588 |
European Union |
| ASTM |
D6262 / F2026 (medical PEEK) |
USA |
| Trade Names |
VICTREX PEEK (VICTREX) / Ketron PEEK (Quadrant) / Solvay KetaSpire / Evonik VESTAKEEP |
Global |
| Medical Grade |
ASTM F2026 — surgical implants |
USA |
| Medical Grade |
ISO 10993 — biocompatibility |
International |
| UL |
94 V-0 (excellent inherent flame retardance) |
USA |
| JIS |
PEEK (JIS K 7209) |
Japan |
| GOST |
PEEK (adopted designation) |
Russia / CIS |
| FDA |
Biocompatible grades per ISO 10993 (medical applications) |
USA |
| JUS |
PL-PEEK |
Yugoslavia / Serbia |
| Key Grades |
Unfilled PEEK / PEEK GF30 / PEEK CF30 (carbon fibre) / PEEK bearing grade |
Global |
| RoHS |
Compliant |
EU |
| Supply Forms |
Rod, sheet, tube (stock shapes) + injection moulding compound + coating powder |
Global |
| ISO |
PEEK (ISO 13588) |
International |
| EN |
EN ISO 13588 |
European Union |
| ASTM |
D6262 / F2026 (medical PEEK) |
USA |
| Trade Names |
VICTREX PEEK (VICTREX) / Ketron PEEK (Quadrant) / Solvay KetaSpire / Evonik VESTAKEEP |
Global |
| Medical Grade |
ASTM F2026 — surgical implants |
USA |
| Medical Grade |
ISO 10993 — biocompatibility |
International |
| UL |
94 V-0 (excellent inherent flame retardance) |
USA |
| JIS |
PEEK (JIS K 7209) |
Japan |
| GOST |
PEEK (adopted designation) |
Russia / CIS |
| FDA |
Biocompatible grades per ISO 10993 |
USA |
| JUS |
PL-PEEK |
Yugoslavia / Serbia |
| Key Grades |
Unfilled PEEK / PEEK GF30 / PEEK CF30 / PEEK bearing grade |
Global |
| RoHS |
Compliant |
EU |
| Supply Forms |
Rod, sheet, tube (stock shapes) + injection moulding compound + coating powder |
Global |
Composition (wt.%)
| Element |
Symbol |
Min % |
Max % |
Typical % |
| Carbon (aromatic ketone ether backbone) |
C |
— |
— |
75.900 |
| Hydrogen |
H |
— |
— |
5.500 |
| Oxygen (ether and ketone linkages) |
O |
— |
— |
18.600 |
| Water absorption (equilibrium 50% RH) |
H2O |
— |
0.500 |
— |
| Water absorption (saturation) |
H2O |
— |
0.500 |
— |
| Carbon (aromatic ketone ether backbone) |
C |
— |
— |
75.900 |
| Hydrogen |
H |
— |
— |
5.500 |
| Oxygen (ether and ketone linkages) |
O |
— |
— |
18.600 |
| Water absorption (equilibrium 50% RH) |
H2O |
— |
0.500 |
— |
Physical
Melting Range
340 – 350
°C
Thermal Conductivity
0.3
W/mK
Thermal Expansion
47
×10⁻⁶/K
Machinability
| Rating |
150.0% (B1112=100%) |
| Turning HSS |
400.0 m/min |
| Turning Carbide |
1200.0 m/min |
| Surface Finish |
Ra 0.2-0.8 um achievable |
| Coolant |
Dry cutting or light MQL |
Mechanical
| Condition |
Rm (MPa) | Re (MPa) | A (%) |
HB | HRC | KV (J) | E (GPa) |
| Unfilled PEEK (standard) (STD) |
95 – 105 |
90 – 100 |
30 – 50 |
— |
— |
— |
3.6 |
| PEEK GF30 (30% glass fibre) (GF30) |
150 – 180 |
130 – 160 |
2 – 3 |
— |
— |
— |
11 |
| PEEK CF30 (30% carbon fibre) (CF30) |
170 – 200 |
150 – 180 |
1 – 2 |
— |
— |
— |
18 |
| PEEK + PTFE + graphite (bearing) (BRG) |
90 – 100 |
85 – 95 |
20 – 40 |
— |
— |
— |
3.5 |
| Unfilled PEEK (standard) (STD) |
95 – 105 |
90 – 100 |
30 – 50 |
— |
— |
— |
3.6 |
| PEEK GF30 (30% glass fibre) (GF30) |
150 – 180 |
130 – 160 |
2 – 3 |
— |
— |
— |
11 |
| PEEK CF30 (30% carbon fibre) (CF30) |
170 – 200 |
150 – 180 |
1 – 2 |
— |
— |
— |
18 |
| PEEK + PTFE + graphite (bearing) (BRG) |
90 – 100 |
85 – 95 |
20 – 40 |
— |
— |
— |
3.5 |
Heat Treatment
| Process |
Temperature |
Medium |
Duration |
Hardness After |
| Drying (mandatory) |
150 – 165°C |
Circulating air oven (vacuum |
4-6 h (moulding); |
Moisture <0.02% |
| Annealing (moulded/machined parts) |
200 – 220°C |
Circulating air oven |
1-4 h |
Crystallinity ~30-35% |
| Sterilisation (medical) |
121 – 134°C |
Autoclave (steam) — multiple |
20 min |
No degradation after 1 |
| Drying (mandatory) |
150 – 165°C |
Circulating air oven (vacuum |
4-6 h |
Moisture <0.02% |
| Annealing (moulded/machined parts) |
200 – 220°C |
Circulating air oven |
1-4 h |
Crystallinity ~30-35% |
| Sterilisation (medical) |
121 – 134°C |
Autoclave (steam) — multiple |
20 min |
No degradation after 1 |
Applications
Aerospace: Structural aircraft components (replacing aluminium), pump housings, valve bodies and fluid system components.
Medical Implants: Spinal cages/interbody fusion devices, craniofacial implants and bone plates — MRI-compatible.
Semiconductor: Wafer handling fixtures, process chamber components, robot end-effectors and valve bodies for ultra-pure media.
Oil & Gas: Downhole seals, valve seats, pump components and cable jacketing for high-temperature high-pressure wells.
Motorsport: High-performance engine components, pump bodies and structural brackets where weight vs service temperature is critical.
Aerospace: Structural aircraft components (replacing aluminium), pump housings and valve bodies.
Medical Implants: Spinal cages/interbody fusion devices, craniofacial implants and bone plates — MRI-compatible.
Semiconductor: Wafer handling fixtures, process chamber components and robot end-effectors.
Oil & Gas: Downhole seals, valve seats, pump components and cable jacketing for high-temperature wells.
Notes
PEEK vs Metals: PEEK offers strength comparable to aluminium alloys (6082-T6) with 40% weight saving and outstanding chemical and electrical resistance. At 250 C service temperature, PEEK outperforms all standard engineering plastics. Where PEEK is suitable, it eliminates corrosion, reduces weight and can be manufactured in complex shapes.
High Cost: PEEK is 30-50x the cost of PA6 or POM. Evaluate whether a lower-cost polymer (PEI, PPSU, PPS) meets requirements before specifying PEEK. PEEK is only justified for extreme temperature, chemical or biomedical demands.
Chemical Resistance: Outstanding — superior to all standard engineering plastics. Resistant to: virtually all organic solvents, acids (concentrated H2SO4 and HNO3 attack slowly), bases and halogens. NOT resistant to: concentrated sulfuric acid (>96%), some chlorinated solvents at high temperature and oxidising halogen agents.
MRI Compatibility: PEEK is non-conductive, non-magnetic and produces no MRI artifacts — making it the preferred metal-replacement material for spinal implants and surgical instruments used in MRI-guided procedures.
PEEK vs Metals: PEEK offers strength comparable to 6082 aluminium with 40% weight saving and outstanding chemical and electrical resistance. At 250 C service temperature, PEEK outperforms all standard engineering plastics.
High Cost: PEEK is 30-50x the cost of PA6 or POM. Evaluate whether a lower-cost polymer (PEI, PPSU, PPS) meets requirements before specifying PEEK.
Chemical Resistance: Outstanding — superior to all standard engineering plastics. Resistant to: virtually all organic solvents, acids, bases and halogens. NOT resistant to: concentrated sulfuric acid (>96%) and some chlorinated solvents at high temperature.
MRI Compatibility: PEEK is non-conductive, non-magnetic and produces no MRI artifacts — preferred for spinal implants and surgical instruments used in MRI-guided procedures.