PEEK Polymer Expands Powder Coating Applications

Through the development of enhanced processing techniques, Victrex, West Chester, PA, has fine-tuned its products to allow standard grades of PEEK polymer to be applied as a powder coating. By using conventional equipment, a thin layer of high-build polymer coating can be applied to a substrate, which confers all the properties of the polymer to that application and helps retain the structural benefit of the substrate. The amount of polymer used can be significantly less than producing the part by other processing techniques. This is a highly cost-efficient means of enhancing part performance -- even in small volume runs.

Parts that can not be made completely from PEEK polymer can often be candidates for powder coating. When this is the case, the parts attain such properties as high temperature resistance; outstanding wear and abrasion resistance; good performance in a wide range of chemical and radiation environments; excellent fire, smoke and toxicity performance; and good electrical properties. Such properties are achieved without the use of additives, making a pure polymer with low levels of extractable ionic species, resulting in the suitability for use in analytical, semiconductor and medical applications, as well as food industry applications.

PEEK polymer is suitable for application by various coating methods; the most widely used being electrostatic spray coating. This equipment is relatively inexpensive to purchase for small scale coating operations. The coatings are sprayed on as a fine powder with an average particle size of between 30 and 80 micrometers. After application, the part is heated in an oven to melt the powder and form a continuous film over the part, followed by a simple air cooling. The powder can be layered to achieve increased thickness.

--TP

For more information:

Circle 690 -- Victrex USA Inc, or connect directly to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at http://www.1rs.com/012df-690