Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a colourless organic polymer thermoplastic used in engineering applications.
PEEK polymers are obtained by step-growth polymerization by the dialkylation of bisphenolate salts. Typical is the reaction of 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone with the disodium salt of hydroquinone, which is generated in situ by deprotonation with sodium carbonate. The reaction is conducted around 300 °C in polar aprotic solvents – such as diphenyl sulphone.
PEEK is a semicrystalline thermoplastic with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance properties that are retained to high temperatures. The Young’s modulus is 3.6 GPa and its tensile strength 90 to 100 MPa. PEEK has a glass transition temperature at around 143 °C (289 °F) and melts around 343 °C (662 °F). The thermal conductivity increases nearly linearly versus temperature between room temperature and solidus temperature. It is highly resistant to thermal degradation as well as attack by both organic and aqueous…