Seattle, WA, USA--(Jobwerx News)--High performance plastics replaces metals in electrical connector coupling nuts withstanding chemicals even at elevated temperatures.

To meet the need for a cost-effective alternative to metal coupling nuts used in electrical connectors, Technique Engineering, Inc., of Lake Forest, IL decided to injection mold the threaded nuts using VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer, a high performance thermoplastic. The polymer was chosen for its outstanding combination of properties including chemical resistance, high temperature resistance, toughness and strength.

Victrex plc manufactures PEEK polymer, a high performance plastic.

Technique Engineering Inc., specializes in plastics product manufacturing and plastics tool design for complex, custom molds and molded parts. High temperature plastics, (i.e. PEEKS and RADELS et al.) are routinely processed by technicians with consistently superior piece-part quality. Machinery is specifically customized to cope with temperatures well in excess of 800o F.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer is an exceptionally strong engineering thermoplastic that retains its mechanical properties even at very high temperatures. The material is tough and abrasion resistant with high-impact strength and excellent flexural and tensile properties. It has a low coefficient of friction and resists attack by a wide range of organic and inorganic chemicals and solvents.

"VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer has proven to be a cost-effective replacement for metal nuts that must be machined one at a time and which may require secondary finishing operations," says Rudy Avramovich, owner of Technique Engineering. "The polymer exhibits better resistance to chemicals than stainless steel, and because the fittings can be injection molded instead of machined, they are much more cost effective. Fittings such as nuts are easier to manufacture out of PEEK™ polymer as each nut can be molded to exact dimensions every time. In addition, we can supply the polymer nuts in a wide variety of colors whereas metal nuts have a very limited color selection."

PEEK polymer compounds can be formulated using a variety of additives including carbon fibers, barium sulfate, and glass fibers. Glass fibers may be compounded with the polymer to enhance its mechanical properties without substantially changing the color of the base material. With higher strength, the polymers can address medical, automotive and aerospace higher-stress applications as well.

Short-fiber-reinforced materials are produced by combining carbon fibers with the polymer in a twin-screw compound extruder under controlled conditions for polymer production. The resulting compound may be injection molded using a system with process temperature capability approaching 400°C. Continuous-fiber-reinforced grade PEEK polymer is made using a proprietary pultrusion process in which carbon fibers and PEEK are processed into a filament, brought together into bundles, and shaped into a rod. The mechanical properties of continuous-fiber-reinforced rod products are comparable to those of metallic materials such as cobalt-chrome, titanium, alloys, and stainless steel.

Electrical connectors are used in a variety of industries. "When connecting cables and wires in the food industry, corrosion resistance is a major requirement," says Avramovich. "For example, the coupling nuts must be able to maintain their mechanical properties in harsh chemical washdown conditions. VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer can withstand an extremely broad range of chemicals even at elevated temperatures."

"The polymer is extremely tough and has excellent impact resistance and fatigue strength over a wide range of temperatures," adds Avramovich. "It retains good mechanical properties at elevated temperatures"

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Special thanks to Technique, Victrex and Medical Device