INTRODUCTION:
When you are trying to select an appropriate polymer for use as a wear component, you consider
things like low friction, dimensional stability, ease of installation, chemical compatibility, durability, toughness, dry-run capabilities, etc. Sometimes, however, the constraint that drives your choice is service temperature. In this article, we are going to look at three material options for applications where the service temperature exceeds 400°F.
Here are some excellent blog posts here on polymer wear components::
- Dummys Guide to Composite Materials for Wear Components
- Polymer Bushings Taking a Beating: Two Important Concepts behind the Wear and Tear
- Polymer Sacrifice: Carbon Fiber Reinforced PEEK as a Wear Component Material
For those cases, there are three specific polymers to choose from: Teflon, Ryton, and Peek.
1. Polymer #1 Teflon
Teflon is the trade name for PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene. Known for its outstanding chemical resistivity and extremely low friction, it is commonly used in a variety of applications including wear components. Its melting point is 620°F, and it performs well in the harshest of environments. Many grades of PTFE are also FDA approved.
2. Polymer #2 Ryton
Ryton is also known as PPS, or polyphenylene sulfide. It offers all the features one looks for in a polymer wear component, along with its performance in corrosive, high-temperature working environments including steams, acids, and fuels. One of its special features is its chemical resistance in the presence of chlorinated water. Ryton is recommended in high load high speed applications wear temperatures are 400°F and below.
3. Polymer #3 PEEK
PEEK is the abbreviation for polyetheretherketone. Some grades of PEEK have operating temperatures in excess of 450°F, and its melting point is 662°F meaning that it can operate at higher temperatures than Ryton. It is not as chemically resistant as Ryton or Teflon, but still provides good chemical resistance. It is superior to Teflon in high load high speed applicaitons. It is available in FDA and medical grades.
CONCLUSION:
When specifying polymer wear components at elevated temperatures (>400°F) you should consider Teflon, Ryton, and Peek among viable alternatives.
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