Email: sales@peekmaterials.com
bwpeek

The Difference Between CF PEEK & Unfilled PEEK

unfilled peek vs cf peek

CF PEEK VS Unfilled PEEK

When you are choosing the right PEEK composite material, you always get into trouble and don’t know which material to choose. Today we will compare unfilled peek and carbon fiber peek to improve your knowledge of peek materials.

cfpeek vs peek
cfpeek vs peek

What is Unfilled PEEK?

Unfilled PEEK is a 100% pure resin high-performance thermoplastic polymer without any fillers or reinforcements. It is beige or natural in color at room temperature and can be made into various semi-finished profiles, such as PEEK sheets, peek rods, peek pipes, etc. It has the highest elongation and toughness, excellent mechanical and chemical properties, and is suitable for applications that require chemical stability and FDA compliance. It can be used continuously in high-temperature environments of 250°C.

What is Carbon filled PEEK?

Carbon filled PEEK is referred to as CF PEEK. Different proportions of carbon fiber, such as 10%-30%, are added to the unfilled peek to make the peek have better performance. Of course, the performance will be different if different proportions are added.

We usually use 30% carbon fiber as a reference. The color of Carbon filled PEEK is usually black. Compared with unfilled peek, Carbon fiber PEEK significantly improves the compressive strength, stiffness, and wear resistance, reduces the thermal expansion coefficient and increases the thermal conductivity. It is very suitable for applications that require high strength and high wear resistance. And high thermal stability accessories.

Compared with Unfilled PEEK & CF PEEK Property

Property Unfilled PEEK Carbon Filled PEEK Results
Density 1.31 g/cm³ 1.41 g/cm³ /
Tensile Strength 16,000 psi (110 MPa) 19,000 psi (131 MPa) Carbon filled PEEK
Tensile Modulus 500,000 psi (3,448 MPa) 1,100,000 psi (7,586 MPa) Carbon filled PEEK
Flexural Strength 25,000 psi (172 MPa) 25,750 psi (177 MPa) Carbon filled PEEK
Flexural Modulus 600,000 psi (4,137 MPa) 1,250,000 psi (8,620 MPa) Carbon filled PEEK
Compressive Strength 20,000 psi (138 MPa) 29,000 psi (200 MPa) Carbon filled PEEK
Heat Deflection Temperature 162 °C 291 °C Carbon filled PEEK
Water Absorption 0.001 0.0006 Carbon filled PEEK
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion 2.6 x 10^-5 in/in/°F 1.0 x 10^-5 in/in/°F Carbon filled PEEK
Wear Resistance Moderate Excellent Carbon filled PEEK
Electrical Conductivity Insulating Conductive Carbon filled PEEK
Chemical Resistance Excellent; resistant to most chemicals and solvents Excellent; similar resistance with enhanced durability Carbon filled PEEK
Electrical Insulation Excellent; high dielectric strength Moderate; improved conductivity due to carbon content Carbon filled PEEK
Thermal Conductivity Low (~0.25 W/m·K) High (~3.5 times that of unfilled PEEK) Unfilled PEEK
Elongation at Break 0.2 0.05 Carbon filled PEEK
Thermal Properties Max Service Temp: 480°F (250°C) Max Service Temp: 600°F (316°C) Carbon filled PEEK
Hardness Rockwell M100 Rockwell M102 Carbon filled PEEK
Flame Retardancy UL 94 V-0 UL 94 V-0 SAME
Friction Coefficient ~0.25 Lower due to carbon; ~0.05 under lubricated conditions Carbon filled PEEK
Resistivity High resistivity Lower resistivity due to carbon content Carbon filled PEEK
  • Mechanical Strength:

The tensile and compressive strength of the carbon-filled PEEK is found to be higher than that of unfilled PEEK because of the strength imparted by carbon fibers. This makes Carbon filled PEEK ideal for use in applications where high loading is expected.

  • Stiffness:

The tensile modulus and fused modulus of carbon fiber PEEK30 are much higher than that of the unfilled PEEK which shows the enhanced rigidity of the carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK30 against deformation at stress.

  • Thermal Stability:

carbon fiber PEEK30 has significantly higher HDT, thus it is better for high-temperature applications where component strength plays a vital role.

  • Wear Resistance:

This feature brings wear resistance in carbon fiber PEEK30 which is useful where there are mechanisms that slide or rotate.

  • Chemical and Moisture Resistance:

Two analyzed materials demonstrate high chemical resistance; yet, slightly lower water absorption in carbon fiber PEEK30 may be an advantage in humid conditions.

  • Thermal Expansion:

The unfilled PEEK material exhibits a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the carbon fiber PEEK30 thus it can provide dimensional stability in the temperature changes.

peek vs cfpeek
peek vs cfpeek

Application fields of Unfilled PEEK and CF PEEK

Application Area Unfilled PEEK carbon fiber PEEK
Medical Used in implants and surgical tools Suitable for high-strength implants
Examples: Spinal fixation devices, dental implants Joint replacement implants
Aerospace Used in electronic components and thermal insulation Ideal for lightweight, high-strength structural parts
Electrical connectors in aircraft Wing brackets
Automotive Used in seals, valves, and pumps Suitable for high-load components like gears
Fuel pump seals High-performance bearings in racing cars
Food Processing FDA compliant for food contact applications Used in high-load food processing equipment
Examples: Filling nozzles, mixing paddles Valve components in high-temperature food processing
Semiconductor & Electronics Used in wafer processing tools Used in high-performance electronic components
Tools for chemical mechanical polishing Connectors and heat sinks
Oil & Gas Used in seals and electrical connectors Suitable for critical components in harsh environments
Electrical insulation materials in wells High-pressure valve components

Processing unfilled PEEK and CF PEEK

Comparative table that analyzes the difficulties that arise when using unfilled PEEK and carbon-filled PEEK , especially where the properties of carbon fiber PEEK are superior to those of conventional PEEK.

Aspect Unfilled PEEK CF PEEK
Machining Process Easier to machine with conventional tools Requires specialized tools (e.g., diamond tools) for precision machining due to increased hardness
Cooling Requirements Standard cooling methods (liquid coolants) can be used Pressurized air is preferred to avoid contamination and maintain biocompatibility
Processing Temperature Melt temperature: 350°C to 400°C Similar melt temperature, but requires careful monitoring to prevent degradation
Elongation and Toughness Higher elongation allows for easier handling Lower elongation; more prone to cracking if not handled carefully during machining
Annealing Needs May require annealing to relieve internal stresses More critical to anneal due to susceptibility to stress cracks and deformation
Tool Wear Standard cutting tools are sufficient Higher tool wear due to abrasive nature; may require more frequent tool changes
Injection Molding High flow properties facilitate easier molding Poor flow properties; requires higher injection pressures and longer cooling times
Shrinkage Rate Moderate shrinkage Lower shrinkage, but high filler content can lead to warping if not managed properly
Surface Finish Good surface finish achievable Achieving a high-quality surface finish is more challenging due to the material's rigidity

Conclusion

The two sub-types of PEEK are carbon fiber reinforced PEEK and Unfilled PEEK, which both belong to the category of high-performance thermoplastic polymers. Although they have many characteristics in common they are different in some ways and they have properties that make them ideal for particular uses.

About BW Unfilled PEEK & Carbon Fiber PEEK

If you have any questions about Unfilled PEEK & carbon fiber PEEK, please contact us and we will answer them for free.

Zhejiang Bw Industrial invested 15 million yuan in the newly built PEEK application technology research and development center, which has been put into use. With the help of this research and development center, our technical personnel can provide many technical services for the PEEK industry, mainly including:

  • Develop new PEEK grades according to the new requirements of different industries.
  • Provide PEEK product design suggestions.
  • Provide PEEK processing molds and equipment requirements.
  • Suggest and optimize PEEK product process parameters.
  • Detect the crystallinity of PEEK products.
  • Test and analyze the composition of unknown samples.
  • Provide on-site technical services.

Contact Us

Tel: +86 579 89021614
Email: sales@peekmaterials.com
Fax: +86 579 89021614
Mob: +86 13868966491
Whatsapp: +86 13868966491
Web:peekmaterials.com
Add.: No77,yongxing road,youbu town,jinhua city Zhejiang, China

Zhejiang BW industry co., ltd

As a professional peek supplier since 2008, we have been committed to solving various problems and challenges of engineering plastics, and are focusing on replacing steel with plastics to change people's lifestyles.
Copyright © Zhejiang BW industry co., ltd.All Rights Reserved
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram