TOOL - Wand Plastic Properties

Created by Nicole Smith, Modified on Thu, 12 Dec at 2:50 PM by Kathleen Patrick

Properties of some high technology plastics used in some wands.

PEEK Polyetheretherketone

General Description
PEEK is a high temperature, high cost , semi-crystalline material with excellent mechanical properties and chemical resistance.

Brand Names
Victrex (ICI), Thermocomp (LNP)

Material Mfg.
ICI, LNP

Tensile Strength	Flexural Modulus	Impact Strength	Maximum Temp.	Chemical Resistance	Cost
14,000-41,000 psi with carbon fibre	440,000-2,400,000 psi	0.9-3 ft-lb/in notched izod	600F short duration 480F long term	Good to Excellent	VERY expensive

PEI Polyetherimid (Ultem)

General Description
PEI is an amorphous, high temperature material with relatively low cost compared to other high temperature materials. It has excellent elongation and Impact Strength, and can be molded to tight tolerances. Its chemical resistance is not as good as crystalline materials but is excellent for an amorphous material. PEI behaves similar to polycarbonate, but can perform at higher temperatures.

Brand Names
Ultem (GE)

Material Mfg.
GE

Tensile Strength	Flexural Modulus	Impact Strength	Maximum Temp	Chemical Resistance	Cost
14,000-28,000 psi	480,000-1,300,000 psi	2ft-lb/in notched izod 25ft-lb/in un-notched	420F short duration 375F long term	Fair to Good	Expensive

PES Polyethersulfone

General Description
Polyethersulfone is a high temperature amorphous material with relatively low cost. PES has slightly lower capabilities than PEI at about the same cost. As a result it is not widely used.

Brand Names
Thermocomp (LNP), Victrex (ICI)

Material Mfg.
LNP, ICI

Tensile Strength	Flexural Modulus	Impact Strength	Maximum Temp.	Chemical Resistance	Cost
9,500-18,000 psi	590,000-1,200,000 psi	1.4ft-lb/in notched izod	400F short duration 350F long term	Good to Excellent	Expensive

PPS Polyphenylene Sulfide

General Description
PPS is a high temperature semi-crystalline material. It has good mechanical properties and excellent chemical resistance at elevated temperatures. PPS has been compounded extensively and many different types of properties are available. PTFE filled PPS is one of the best bearing materials available. Unfilled grades of PPS have poor properties, so components are usually made from glass filled or glass/mineral filled grades. PPS is very sensitive to molding conditions and must be processed properly to achieve its maximum potential.

Brand Names
Fortron (Hoechst Celanese), Lubricomp (LNP), Ryton (Phillips), Supec (GE)

Material Mfg.
GE, Hoechst Celanese, LNP, Phillips

Tensile Strength	Flexural Modulus	Impact Strength	Maximum Temp.	Chemical Resistance	Cost
14,000-28,000 psi	550,000 -2,900,000 psi	0.5-6ft-lb/in notched izod	500F short duration 450F long term	Good to excellent	Variable