Top 8 Reasons PEEK Is Ideal Material for Bushings and Bearing

Find out why PEEK is the top choice for demanding bushing applications. Learn how its exceptional properties can enhance your machinery’s performance.

Bushings and bearings are essential parts used in various machines that support moving parts and ensure smoother operation. Thus, there is always a demand for high-quality materials that offer a low coefficient of friction, a reliable wear rate, and high load-bearing capabilities. That’s exactly what you will get with PEEK.

PEEK is a high-performance thermoplastic that effectively works in high-stress environments. Starting from minimizing noise to providing self-lubricating properties and reliable wear behavior, PEEK offers all high-grade features and ensures improved performance.

But that’s not enough to make an informed decision. Read the rest and learn in detail why it is wise to use PEEK in high-performance bushing and bearing applications.

8 Key Reasons You Should Choose PEEK for High-Performance Bushings and Bearings

Here, we have highlighted 8 top reasons why PEEK is a reliable choice for high-performance bushings and other demanding applications.

1. High Operating Temperature Range

PEEK has excellent thermal stability, which can withstand extremely high temperatures, up to 480°F (250°C), even without degrading or losing strength. As the temperature range increases, you will find that PEEK maintains its tensile strength and flexural strength as it is. Its melting point is around 341 °C, which is highly effective for bushings in various applications.

At higher temperatures, PEEK slightly releases and produces minimal toxic gases. The best part of PEEK is that it features a V-0 flammability rating, which is one of the highest ratings in the UL 94 flammability standard. That means it can self-extinguish within 10 seconds if somehow ignited.

2. Exceptional Mechanical Strength

PEEK is an excellent material with mechanical strength and dimensional stability in all extreme conditions of the application. Thus, you can safely use it in any higher-performance bushing where metal demands high load and frequent movement.

There are various instances where traditional materials fail due to conditions like high load, pressure, or extreme temperature. However, the mechanical properties of PEEK are designed to handle such extreme conditions and maintain its stiffness without damage.

Its tensile strength is 90–100 MPa, which is quite strong and can resist significant tension. Plus, the 3.6 GPa Young’s Modulus ensures good rigidity of the PEEK under force.

3. Good Chemical Resistance

It is wonderful that the bushing comes in contact with a variety of aggressive chemical substances. PEEK proves exceptional resistance to different types of aggressive chemicals and remains stable without degrading. It performs well when exposed to steam and hot water, which is typically challenging for many materials.

Because of these amazing features, it is widely used for applications like pumps or valves where bushings might be exposed to high temperatures and moisture. Besides acids and bases, it doesn’t react with organic solvents or even don’t change properties in contact.

4. High Lubricity

PEEK plastic is mostly known for providing self-lubricating properties, and thus it is used in various polymer-metal sliding pairs. It reduces the demand for adding external lubrication to enhance the performance of bushings.

The material itself makes a smooth surface interaction and slides the parts more easily. Still, many manufacturers use fillers like PTFE, Graphite, MoS2, and WS2 with PEEK to boost their self-lubricating properties. The blends lubricate the metal/metal trio and extend the lifespan of bushings in high-load and extreme friction environments.

5. Lower Coefficient of Friction

Typical thermoplastic with low friction is great to use in the brushing. The low friction feature reduces the wear and tear between moving parts and ensures smooth operations. Like other high-grade materials, the COF rates of PEEK are typically low and even believed to be lower than any other solids.

This ensures smooth movement of the email between both the bushing and mating components and lessens energy loss. Even with lower friction, there will be less heat generated during operations. This way, you can prevent your bushings and the mating surfaces from frequent wearing.

6. Improved by Additives

Another big advantage of PEEK in higher-performance bushings is its superior blending with a variety of additives. The additives add a line into other high-grade thermal, chemical, and wear-resistant properties.

Here is a list of some important additives added to the PEEK to enhance its performance in all environments:

Additives	Effects in high-performance bushings
Carbon	Improves stiffness, fatigue resistance, and weight-bearing
Glass fiber	Increases rigidity, mechanical strength, and dimensional stability
Chemical additives	Improve resistance to UV radiation, flame retardancy, and chemical resistance.
Nano-TiO2	Improves bioactivity, cell attachment, and osteoblast cell spreading
Strontium-containing hydroxyapatite	Increases bioactivity
Calcium oxide and silicon dioxide	Increases bioactivity

7. Corrosion Resistance

Traditional bearings are often made with materials that are highly prone to corrosion when exposed to water. For this purpose, it demands materials that can effectively resist corrosion. PEEK has such high-quality corrosion properties that it can prevent corrosion and the destructive effects of surrounding media.

When exposed to certain chemicals, it won’t break down, weaken, or rust. Many industrial acids, like sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, can corrode materials, whereas PEEK acts as a good resistance without damage. This is the reason it is preferred for use in high-performance bushings.

8. Excellent Electrical Insulation

Proper electrical insulation is a must for the bushing and surrounding material. It allows electrical conductors to pass safely through a conducting barrier. PEEK, based on its chemical structure, provides an excellent electrical insulator.

PEEK’s atoms are held together by covalent bonds and have no mobile electrons. This makes it an ideal choice as an insulator in bushings, where it prevents electrical short circuits and potential hazards. Its electrical properties remain stable even in extreme temperature conditions.

Final Words

PEEK is a perfect material for bushings and Bearings because of its comprehensive properties. If you are looking for a professional and trustworthy supplier, contact UVTECO now!