Application Note- G-PAEK - PEK (Polyether Ketone) an ideal Polymer

for Nuclear Power sector.

Gharda Chemicals a specialty chemical company, engaged in the business of
manufacturing Agrochmicals, Specialty Pigments and Specialty Polyemers
has now added a feather in its cap by successfully commercializing PEK
(Polyether Ketone) under the brand name G-PAEK.
PEK is n ultra performance engineering polymer with exceptionally high
heat resistance, having maximum service temperature rating upto 280 deg C.
The salient features of PEK polymer is as under.
Gamma ray Radiation resistance upto 1000Mrads. (Best in class)
Excellent chemical resistance. (Only affected by few solvents and
acids.)
Heat resistance upto 280 deg C.
Retention of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures
Strength to weight ratio similar to that of steel.
High Surface hardness.
Excellent hydrolytic stability.
Thermoplastic with good processing ability for Injection moulding,
extrusion.
Oustanding triboloical properties with excellent wear resistance.
All these properties (Table-1) make PEK an ideal polymer for engineering
applications and an ideal substitute to metals, particularly in Nuclear
Applications.

Table-1: Thermal, Rheological, Mechanical and Flammability properties of GPAEK 1200G

PROPERTY
General Properties
Density
Water Absorption
Rockwell Hardness
Shore D Hardness
Mold Shrinkage (400C nozzle, 210C M
Thermal Properties
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg)
Melting Point (Tm)
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)
Continuous Use Temperature
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength
Tensile Modulus
Elongation at Break
Flexural Strength
Flexural Modulus
Izod Impact Strength(Notched)
Izod Impact Strength(Un-notched)
Rheological Properties
Melt Viscosity at 400C
Electrical Properties
Dielectric Strength
Surface Resistivity
Volume Resistivity
Arc Resistance
CTI
Fire Properties
Flammability

TEST METHOD/CONDITIONS

UNIT

G-PAEK
1200G

23C
ASTMD 570-98
ASTMD785/M Scale
ASTM D2240-05
Along Flow
Across Flow

g/cc
%

%
%

1.30
0.08
103
86
1.0
1.3

ASTM D3418
ASTM D3418
ASTM D648 /1.8 MPa
UL 746B/ Expected

C
C
C
C

152
372
167
280

ASTMD 638
ASTMD 638
ASTMD 638
ASTMD790
ASTMD790
ASTMD256
ASTMD256

MPa
GPa
%
MPa
GPa
J/m
J/m

110
4.2
10-15
185
4.1
60
No Brea

ASTMD 3835/@1000 s-1

Pa.s

200

Kvmm-1

cm-1
Sec
V/50 drop

14
1016
1016
175
145

V-0

ASTMD 149/ 3.2mm thickness

ASTMD 257
ASTMD 257
ASTMD 495/@ 500 Volts
ASTMD 3638
UL 94/0.8 mm

G-PAEK 1200G (Unfilled natural PEK polymer) has been tested for 200
Mrad Gamma ray radiation exposure at BRIT (Board of Radiations and
Isotopes Technology), Navi Mumbai. The exposed samples have been tested
for Tensile Strength, Flexural strength & Elongation at Break properties with
very little change. The tables shows that there is virtually no change in
Tensile., Flexural strength & Impact Strength properties w.r.t Gamma ray
Radiation exposure dosage, upto atleast 200 Mrads. (Table 2,3 & 4)

Table 2 Effect of Gamma ray on Tensile & Flexural Strength of G-PAEK 1200G

Table 3: Effect of Gamma Ray on Impact Strength of G-PAEK 1200G.

Table-4 : Effect of Gamma Ray on Elongation at Break properties of G-PAEK 1200G

These important properties makes PEK a unique & desirable polymer to be

used in Nuclear Power Installations. Some of the proposed applications.
a. Seals, Bearings, Bushings
b. Also as Wire and cable insulating materials.
c. Also available for Surface coating application on Metals for chemical
and radiation protection.
A comparative Property chart (Table 5) of Gamma Ray radiation resistance
of PEEK/PEK with other polymeric materials is shown below. PEK has
been reported to resist 5000 Mrad radiation exposure which is much higher
then any of the available thermoplastic materials.
(G-PAEK 1200G has been tested successfully at BRIT, Navi Mumbai for
200 Mrad exposure to Gamma Rays without any change in properties).

Table 5 : The bar chart shows the maximum withstanding exposure to

Gamma rays for various polymers.

G-PAEK (PEK) polymer is available as powders for coatings, pellet for

Injection moulding and also as rods and plates for machining components.