Polyaryletherketones PAEK

The generic term polyaryletherketones (PAEK) refers to a family of engineering polymers with high thermomechanical properties, even at high temperatures, including :

• polyetherketone (PEK) ;

• polyetheretherketone (PEEK) ;

• polyetheretherketoneketone (PEEKK) ;

• polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) ;

• polyetherketoneetherketoneketone (PEKEKK).

These polymers have the following characteristics:

• a maximum continuous operating temperature of 250°C, for unloaded, unreinforced and mechanically unstressed material;

• mechanical properties that remain high over a temperature range from – 100 °C to the glass transition temperature between 132 and 187 °C;

• excellent fire resistance of resins without flame-retardant additives;

• good dielectric properties;

• good physico-chemical resistance.

PEK was introduced to the world market in 1982 by ICI, who went on to market PEEK in 1987. After this date, other producers began to manufacture the various PAEKs. The development of these polymers, like that of new, highly specialized engineering polymers, remains limited. However, because of their excellent thermomechanical properties and despite their very high price, PAEKs have found some technical applications in electrical engineering and electronics, mechanical engineering and transport.