PEEK / PEK supplier: for extreme heat and chemical service
PEEK holds up in 240°C service, aggressive chemicals and steam sterilization while carrying structural loads.
25 kg bags to several pallets · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- Good
- Clarity
- Opaque
- Chemical resistance
- Outstanding
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets; fine powder grades too
- Order size
- 25 kg bags, boxes or drums, up to several pallets
- Grades
- Unfilled PEEK · Glass-filled (30%) · Carbon-filled (30%) · Bearing grades (carbon/PTFE/graphite)
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
PEEK is the pick when a part has to carry load near 240–260°C, survive aggressive chemicals or steam, and resist wear, all at once. Use it only where cheaper high-heat resins fail, because it costs several times more than PEI or PPS. The most common mistake is a mold below 170°C / 338°F: parts leave the press under-crystallized, then shrink, warp and lose chemical resistance in service.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About PEEK / PEK
Polyetheretherketone is specified for continuous high heat, chemical attack, wear, and autoclave cycles. It replaces metal in aerospace and energy applications and machines well. It is among the most expensive thermoplastics, so it pays to use it only where it is needed. PEEK is the most widely used member of the PAEK (polyaryletherketone) family, which also includes PEK and PEKK.
Common applications
- Aerospace components
- Oil & gas downhole parts
- Semiconductor handling components
- High-performance bearings and seals
- Sterilizable instrument parts (non-implant)
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Good |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT) | ~150°C unfilled; ~315°C+ glass- or carbon-filled (1.8 MPa) |
| Clarity | Opaque |
| Chemical resistance | Outstanding |
| Relative cost | Very high |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Full data sheet values: PEEK properties
Which grade to ask for
Most PEEK buying decisions come down to filler type and melt viscosity.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Unfilled, standard or easy flow | Seals, insulators, thin-wall parts, parts that need toughness and elongation | Heat deflection is only about 150–160°C / 302–320°F, so do not use it for loaded parts above that |
| 30% glass-filled | Structural parts, pump and valve components, electrical parts that run hot | Cross-flow shrinkage varies widely between suppliers; fibers shorten with every regrind pass |
| 30% carbon-filled | The highest stiffness for its weight, aerospace brackets, metal replacement | Shrinkage along flow is close to zero, so the gate location sets dimensions; conductive, so not for insulators |
| Bearing grades (carbon fiber, PTFE, graphite) | Bushings, thrust washers, seal rings, dry-running wear parts | Check the PV limit on the grade sheet; the PTFE content matters if your program restricts fluoropolymers |
| Medical non-implant grades | Steam-sterilized instrument parts and device components | Ask for biocompatibility test data and change-control terms for the exact grade and color |
| Higher-Tg PAEK grades (PEK-type) | Parts that need more heat headroom than standard PEEK | They run hotter than PEEK; take melt range and moisture-analyzer setpoint from that grade’s sheet |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. PEEK absorbs little water (about 0.1% in 24 h) but must still be dried: 150–160°C / 302–320°F for 2–4 h, to below 0.02%. Use a dryer dew point of −40°C / −40°F and keep tray depth to 1 in or less. See the drying chart for other resins.
- Melt temperature. 354–400°C / 669–752°F, with barrel, screw and hot runner rated for it. In a stoppage, hold up to about 1 h at 360°C / 680°F (half that for glass-filled). For longer stops, drop to 340°C / 644°F or purge.
- Mold temperature. 170–200°C / 338–392°F at the tool surface, with 170°C as a hard minimum. This sets crystallinity. A cold tool leaves amorphous areas that crystallize later once the part goes above its Tg of about 143°C / 289°F, and the part moves. Use oil or electric heating, not water.
- Shrinkage. Unfilled grades run about 0.9–1.3% along flow and 1.1–1.5% across. Glass-filled cross-flow values run from about 0.6% to 1.6% by supplier, so never average producers’ numbers.
- Regrind. Often 10–30% of the same grade. PEEK holds properties well over a few passes, but fibers shorten in filled grades. Medical and aerospace programs often allow none, so check the drawing and the customer spec.
- Most common defect. Parts that move or lose chemical resistance after molding, from a mold below 170°C or a cycle too short to crystallize. Black specks come next, from PEEK that degrades in hot runners or during a hot stop.
What to put on the purchase order
- Exact grade and filler. Unfilled, GF30, CF30 or bearing grade, plus viscosity class. Name the grade the tool was cut for; equivalent grades from other producers shrink differently.
- Flow value and test method. PEEK flow is reported as melt viscosity or MVR at a producer-specific high temperature. Copy the method and condition from the data sheet so the COA value can be compared to it.
- Color. Natural (tan) or black. Few pigments survive PEEK melt temperatures, so custom colors are limited.
- Form. Pellets for molding and extrusion. Fine powder grades for coating and compounding are different products, so say which you need.
- Regulatory documents. For food contact, ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade. UL recognition is grade-specific and color-specific; check the grade’s listing on UL Product iQ.
- COA values to check. Melt viscosity or MVR against the data sheet range, and filler content (ash) for glass- and carbon-filled grades. Aerospace work often also needs lot traceability back to the producer.
When to consider something else
- If the part runs below about 200–220°C and sees fuels or chemicals but little impact or fatigue, look at PPS.
- If you need flame and smoke performance, stiffness and tight tolerances below about 170°C continuous, compare PEEK vs. PEI.
- If repeated steam sterilization is the main requirement, look at PPSU, which costs much less.
- If the part is structural with continuous use up to about 150–180°C, look at glass-filled PPA.
- For more lower-cost options, see PEEK alternatives.
Common questions
What mold temperature does PEEK need?
About 170–200°C (338–392°F) at the tool surface, and 170°C is a hard minimum. Below that the part does not fully crystallize, so it can shrink and warp later when it gets hot and it loses some chemical and wear resistance. Plan on oil or electric mold heating.
Does PEEK need to be dried?
Yes. It absorbs only about 0.1% water in 24 hours, but dry it at 150–160°C (302–320°F) for 2–4 hours to below 0.02% moisture.
Is glass-filled or carbon-filled PEEK better?
Carbon-filled PEEK is stiffer and lighter and shrinks almost nothing along flow, but it conducts electricity. Glass-filled PEEK costs less, insulates, and suits most structural and electrical parts. Both raise heat deflection above 300°C.
Is PEEK food safe?
Some PEEK grades are made to comply with FDA food-contact requirements, but not every grade or color. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade and color you plan to run. A polymer chemist can check the documents before you order.
Tell us the PEEK / PEK grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Tell us what the part has to survive
Send the PEEK grade or the heat, chemical and load conditions, and a polymer chemist returns a grade recommendation and quote.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.