The application of special engineer plastic PEEK

The demand for PEEK in the automotive field is gradually increasing due to the upgrade of automotive parts materials and the enameled wire of high-voltage motors.

PEEK is expected to replace metal and other engineering plastics in some parts with its excellent comprehensive performance. PEEK has good friction resistance, comprehensive mechanical properties, self-lubrication and longer service life, but also has a positive effect on the lightweight of automobiles, which makes it a substitute for metal materials in key parts. The current application of PEEK materials in the field of traditional fuel vehicles is mainly concentrated in bearings and seals. In the field of new energy vehicles, except bearings and seals, its application also mainly includes gears and solenoid valves of the rotating system.

With the gradual development of PEEK material application scenarios, the application of PEEK in the automotive field will continue to expand. The application of PEEK materials in various parts such as gears, gaskets, suspension system joints, vacuum pump blades, ABS valve cores, seat worms, etc. will be expanded, and the usage will gradually increase. In terms of replacing other special engineering plastics, the only special engineering plastics that can meet the requirements of wear resistance and self-lubricating properties are PEEK and POM, and the rigidity of PEEK is much higher than that of POM, so PEEK gradually replaces POM for automotive main power bearings; the only materials that can meet the wear resistance of transmission sealing rings are PEEK and PPS, and PEEK can withstand high temperatures of 250℃, which is more suitable than PPS for the working environment of transmission sealing rings.

PEEK is an ideal material for motor enameled wires.

The increase in the penetration rate of 800V motors will increase the demand for PEEK. The short cruising range of new energy vehicles is the main difficulty affecting their development. 800V high-voltage fast charging has the advantages of high charging efficiency. It is the mainstream route of current development. When the system voltage is upgraded from 400V to 800V, the electric drive system directly which connected to the battery pack also needs to be powered by 800V voltage. In the process of upgrading the motor voltage from 400V to 800V, higher requirements are placed on the insulation performance of the motor flat wire, which is manifested in the increase in the withstand voltage requirements of the wire and the need to use materials resistant to partial discharge (PD). The current solutions mainly include PEEK flat wire solutions and thick paint film solutions. Traditional materials for enameled wires are acetal and polyester, which have been replaced by PI, PEEK and other materials in the 400V motor stage. PEEK is bendable and hydrolysis-resistant, and is superior to PI in terms of safety and material comprehensiveness. It is also lighter and thinner, making it an ideal material for motor enameled wires. According to NE Times's forecast, the penetration rate of 800V motors in the new energy vehicle field is expected to reach 40% by 2027. According to Shanghai Nonferrous Network data, the penetration rate of PEEK enameled wire in 800V drive motors is expected to exceed that of thick-coated PI wire by 2027. We assume that the penetration rate is 50%, based on the 800V motor enameled wire used in each car using about 470g of PEEK and Sullivan's forecast of 13.99 million new energy vehicle sales in 2027. It is estimated that the domestic demand for PEEK for 800V motor enameled wire in 2027 will reach 1, 315 tons.

Medical-grade PEEK materials are not used in large quantities but are of high value.

Compared to titanium alloys, PEEK is more suitable for use as a medical implant material, and the market demand is growing rapidly. With the deepening of my country's aging population and the increase in the elderly population, the demand for orthopedic medical consumables has increased. At the same time, the continuous increase in per capita income will also accelerate the replacement of PEEK products with alloys and other materials. Since the modulus of PEEK materials is close to that of human bones, it is not easy to wear human bones in joints. When repairing the skull, the thermal conductivity of PEEK is similar to that of human bones, and the body feels more comfortable. In addition, since X-rays can penetrate PEEK, it is convenient for patients to conduct follow-up examinations. Therefore, even though the current medical-grade PEEK material is ten times the price of titanium alloys, the annual compound growth rate of the market demand for medical-grade PEEK materials is still 20%-30%, far exceeding the growth rate of 2%-4% of titanium alloys.

Medical-grade PEEK materials have strict standards, and the added value of the products is much higher than that of ordinary PEEK materials. As a bio-inert material, PEEK lacks biological activity. When used in bone repair and bone integration, it cannot form a stable interface with living tissues, and it is difficult to form bone fusion with human bones, which greatly limits the use of PEEK in the medical field. Therefore, it is necessary to add some bio-compatible materials to polyetheretherketone materials to improve its biological activity. The formula and process of bio-compatible materials added to medical-grade PEEK materials have long been monopolized by foreign companies, and the relevant factories that produce medical-grade PEEK materials must also pass GMP tests that are more stringent than ordinary industrial ISO standards. Therefore, domestic manufacturers have made slow progress in the industrialization of medical-grade PEEK materials, and the price of medical-grade PEEK materials has remained high, and the added value of the products is much higher than that of ordinary PEEK materials.