Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Victrex USA | Subject: Victrex Peek
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 28 April 2006
Thermoplastic is top choice for ball
bearings
Balls made with Victrex Peek high-temperature thermoplastic offer a competitive advantage when used in a variety of check valve and bearing applications.
When used in a variety of check valve and bearing applications, balls made with Victrex Peek high-temperature thermoplastic offer a competitive advantage for manufacturers looking for outstanding corrosion and wear resistance, toughness and the ability to withstand the harshest environments According to Daryl Brace, Business Manager at Parkway Products, a leading US manufacturer of high performance balls: "A major advantage of using Victrex Peek polymer is its superior corrosion resistance"
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 31 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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"This makes the balls ideal for corrosive environments where bearings are subject to chemical abrasiveness in applications such as chemical processing, aquatic marine bearings, antilock brake valves and other industrial applications".
"And, because Victrex Peek polymer conforms to FDA requirements, the balls are suitable for use in food processing equipment".
In addition to corrosion resistance, wear and chemical resistance properties are significant advantages.
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"Victrex Peek polymer has very low wear rates due to its intrinsic strength, hardness and self-lubricity", says Brace.
"Plus, it offers resistance to a wide range of solvents and proprietary fluids".
When compared with stainless steel or ceramic balls, Victrex Peek balls have additional advantages such as superior creep resistance, which allows the retention and stability of load bearing properties at discharge temperatures.
"They also provide greater dimensional stability and more reliable performance", adds Brace.
In addition, the low water absorption of Victrex Peek polymer ensures dimensional integrity and improves operational performance.
Widely regarded as having the best combination of properties for harsh environments, Victrex Peek polymer is tough, strong, rigid, and resistant to both abrasion and dynamic fatigue.
"Balls made with Victrex Peek polymer are stronger than those made with fluoroelastomers", says Brace.
"Fluoroelastomers are soft and more easily damaged, and they can't carry as high a load".
"When compared with metal balls, Victrex Peek balls have better corrosion resistance and are less likely to damage other components".
Combining excellent tribological properties with mouldability and outstanding performance at high temperatures, "Victrex Peek polymer is probably the only injection mouldable bearing material that has a measurable wear factor at over 260C", says Brace.
"All other thermoplastics fail at, or below, this temperature".
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