PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) is a remarkable high-performance polymer that originated from ICI in and later developed by renowned companies like DuPont, BASF, Mitsui Optoelectronic Co., LTD., VICTREX, and Eltep. Its exceptional properties have made it a sought-after material, especially in the realm of valve seats, revolutionizing valve technology in various industries.
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1, Exceptional High Temperature Resistance:
PEEK possesses an impressive melting point of 334' and a glass transition temperature of 143', allowing it to withstand extreme temperatures. This characteristic makes PEEK valve seats ideal for applications that demand continuous operation under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, such as in nuclear valves, pump compressor valve plates, and sealing parts within valves.
2, Superior Mechanical Properties:
The inherent toughness and rigidity of PEEK, akin to alloy materials, render it highly durable and resistant to fatigue even under alternating stress. This mechanical strength ensures prolonged performance and longevity in demanding valve applications.
3, Flame Retardant for Enhanced Safety:
PEEK has excellent flame retardancy, as it meets the V-0 classification according to UL94 standards. This property ensures that PEEK valve seats can self-extinguish after ignition, providing an added layer of safety, especially in critical settings where fire hazards are a concern.
4, Dimensional Stability and Accuracy:
PEEK exhibits superior dimensional stability, making it less susceptible to changes caused by environmental factors like temperature and humidity. This dimensional accuracy is crucial in high-precision applications, ensuring a reliable and consistent performance over time.
5, Chemical and Corrosion Resistance:
The exceptional chemical resistance of PEEK allows it to excel in corrosive environments, making it suitable for use with a wide range of media and fluids. This characteristic further enhances the reliability and longevity of PEEK valve seats in critical industries such as oil and gas, where harsh chemical environments are common.
6, Versatility in Challenging Environments:
PEEK valve seats find extensive applications in industries like aerospace, automotive manufacturing, electronics, medical, and food processing. Its ability to maintain excellent performance even under poor working conditions, high humidity, and extreme temperatures, makes it a preferred choice in diverse settings.
7, Environmental Friendliness and Non-Toxicity:
PEEK is non-toxic, chemically inert, and exhibits low water absorption, making it a safe and eco-friendly material for various applications. Its biocompatibility also makes it suitable for medical and food processing industries.
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ARK PEEK valve seats have revolutionized valve technology by capitalizing on the exceptional properties of this high-performance polymer material. With its unique combination of high temperature resistance, mechanical strength, flame retardancy, and dimensional stability, PEEK is now a key player in ensuring reliable and efficient operations of valves in critical industries. As research and development continue to advance, PEEK's advantages are poised to shape the future of valve technology, unlocking new possibilities for enhanced performance and safety in industrial engineering.
For decades, valve manufacturers and valve users have suffered from the limited availability of ball valve seat materials. PEEK and PTFE are the two go-to materials of choice. So much so, that the habitual use of these two materials has left a void in performance, both physically and financially. Advances in materials processing techniques and quality processes are now starting to create alternatives that have clear competitive advantages for ball valve performance.
Given the stringent safety and quality requirements for valve seats, the selection of PTFE and PEEK has become an easy option as they have a proven track record and are recognised across the industry. This though does not come without it's challenges. All too often PEEK is supplied under pricing pressure, which has caused the trusted use of PEEK on specifications to suffer from many quality and poor manufacturing practices;
This is an important subject but for now, let's consider what is good about PEEK and PTFE and where their place is and isn't for ball valve seats.
PTFE ' what is it good for, where does it struggle
- Good chemical resistance, low coefficient of friction, low moisture absorption, and high electrical resistance. but its flexibility at low temperatures is a key feature.
- PTFE mechanical properties are low compared to other polymers and is very soft and cannot be used for higher pressures.
PEEK ' what is it good for, where does it struggle
- Outstanding chemical resistance, very low moisture uptake, good fire performance, excellent mechanical strength across a broad temperature range, and good dimensional stability.
- Relatively High Cost. It is very hard and difficult for valve companies to seal with.
So what is the gap?
Typically as pressure increases PTFE can no longer resist deformation well enough to perform long term, so PEEK is employed as the seat material of choice. Stepping from PTFE to PEEK causes a significant leap in price for valve seats. It also creates challenges around seal performance given that PEEK is so much harder and resistant to the slight deformation needed to seal against imperfections on the sealing face. Therefore, in a highly competitive landscape, moving to PEEK and the associated improvements in adjacent components and actuation can be the difference between winning and losing an opportunity. This is coupled with the influx of lower quality PEEK materials flooding the market, which can cause unreliable performance, prolonged testing due to quality issues and ultimately damaged brands and unplanned delays.
Is it about time to consider other materials as a potential solution?
Advanced material processing techniques are utilising physical properties of materials and creating high-performance characteristics without the problems with seal performance and extortionate price tags.
How can we address this challenge which is faced across the valve industry and what new developments are on the horizon?
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