PAEK vs. PEEK what are the differences?

[Shockdesigner331]

Hello all,
I have a large diameter part that needs to be made from PEEK (Temperature, radiation environment) and our purchasing department came back with several quotes, one was for 6" diameter x 3" lg "pucks" of PAEK material. What I've been able to find out online is that PAEK was the precursor to PEEK. Can anybody help me fill in the rest of the blanks? Same chemical makeup? same radiation resisitance? Tensile? etc. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[IRstuff]

Didn't you write a specification for the purchase? How do you even know whether the PEEK suppliers are meeting your requirements?

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[Shockdesigner331]

Right, of course. I probably should have mentioned what I asked our purchasing department to get quoted. I asked for PEEK per MIL-P-46183 type 1. I believe a supplier suggested the PAEK as an alternative because it was over run that they had on hand.

 

[monkeydog]

Seems like the supplier should provide the rational why it is an acceptable alternative.

 

[Shockdesigner331]

Can't believe I forgot to add this to my original question, the PAEK is per ASTM D-6262

 

[IRstuff]

It should not be on you to figure out if ASTM D-6262 meets or exceeds MIL-P-46183 type 1. It should still be on them to provide rationale why they think they're compliant to your requirement. They're effectively claiming compliance to YOUR requirement with their response. So your response ought to be, "You claim compliance; prove it."

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[Shockdesigner331]

IRstuff, your right, I was just curious as to this materials properties. I had never heard of it before. I'm specifying the PEEK mainly because it's one of the few structural plastics that can be used in radiation environments. Perhaps PAEK is also radiation tolerant? I don't have the ASTM spec for the PAEK but I doubt that it would have radiation information.

 

[patprimmer]

I have worked in that market for many years including for ICI when they introduced PEEK as Victrex. I never heard of PAEK. There was PEK and PEEK. PEEK had substantially better properties and higher price than PEK back when.

I think Victrex and Solvay are the major manufactures these days.

Regards
Pat
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[prdave00]

Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) is the name for the family of polyketone compounds including PEK, PEEK (a name branded by ICI under the Victrex name), PEKK, and PEKEKK amoung others. If it just says PAEK then it could be any those listed in that family.

 

[Shockdesigner331]

Thanks for the input guys.