Victrex, polyaryletherketone

Polyaryletherketone, [-( )-C0-( )-0-( )-0], was commercialized in 1980 as Victrex . It is a tough, resin with T = 143°C and T = 334°C. Blends of PEEK with PPS show synergistic effects toward tensile and flexural strength, as well as the impact resistance. 

Polyaryletherketones (PAEK) are aromatic polymers with ether and ketone linkages in the chain, viz., PEK, PEEK, PEEKK, etc. Polyetheretherketone (Victrex PEEK), [-(j)-C0-(t)-0-(t)-0-]n, was commercialized in 1980 (Tg = 143 °C, Tm = 334 °C). Commercial blends of PEEK include Sumiploy PEEK/PES/ PTFE, PEEK/LCP, Cortem PEEK/LTG, etc. Evolution of PEEK blends technology is outlined in Table 1.72. 

Polyaryletherketones (PAEK) have been used for many years in secondary medical devices such as surgical instruments. The use of PAEK in implantable devices was first patented by ICI in 1987 [1]. ICI developed a number of high-value medical applications based around its polyhydroxy butyrate resorbable products (later part of Zeneca Biopolymers) but was relatively inactive in implantable PAEK. In the meantime BASF developed a number of applications based on PEKEKK, but it was not until 1999 that Victrex launched... 

Polyaryletherketones (PAEK) have been described as the world s highest performance true thermoplastic polymers. It is now 30 years since the invention of Victrex PEEK (polyetheretherketone) and PAEK are found in niche applications in almost every industry sector. 

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