Evonik’s Resource Efficiency Segment’s High Performance Polymers business line has developed innovative polyetheretherketone (PEEK) microparticles, VESTAKEEP 5000HCM, which can improve customized PEEK seals and give them excellent mechanical properties to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.

Standard-sized oil and gas seals made of PEEK are usually processed by injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming (HCM). If the product needs to be customized, manufacturers usually choose thermoforming because it has lower costs associated with downstream manufacturing processes compared to injection molding and extrusion. With the launch of VESTAKEEP 5000HCM, the processing output of thermoforming will be increased and the quality of the finished product will be enhanced.

VESTAKEEP 5000HCM, in the form of microparticles, can effectively reduce or even eliminate air trapped in hot extrusion molds. Traditional PEEK powders used in hot forming processes are prone to air infiltration during processing, resulting in oxidation and black spots on the finished components. Black spots can lead to additional reprocessing and may even cause serious production losses. The bulk density of VESTAKEEP 5000HCM microparticles has been measured to be significantly higher than the standard of PEEK powders, and has better mechanical properties, such as elongation at break value.

Another advantage of VESTAKEEP 5000HCM microparticles is that there is no need to grind the particles into powder. This allows microparticle PEEK compounds to be reinforced with glass fibers or used for hot pressing with fluoropolymer additives. These two processes are impossible for traditional PEEK powders, because traditional PEEK powders need to be ground, which will destroy the effect of glass fibers or additives.

——Quoted from “China Light Machinery News”