PEEK is one of the high-performance engineering plastics, with good stability and durability in irradiated environments. After irradiation, PEEK's physical properties, chemical properties and mechanical properties can remain stable and will not undergo significant changes due to irradiation. At the same time, PEEK also has high temperature and chemical tolerance, and can be used in extreme environments. Therefore, PEEK is widely used in industries such as nuclear power plants, semiconductor manufacturing and medical devices that require high radiation resistance.

    The effect of radiation on the properties of oriented PEEK sheets was studied by irradiating the oriented polyether etherketone (PEEK) sheets with electron beam (EB) in a room temperature air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and universal tensioning machine were used to test the stress direction (parallel direction) and perpendicular to the orientation PEEK sheets with different radiation absorption doses. Influence of crystallization properties, thermal stability, mechanical properties and thermal shrinkage properties in the force direction (vertical direction). The results show that within the experimental absorbed dose range, the crystallization temperature, melting enthalpy and crystallinity of the sample decrease with the increase of the absorbed dose; the thermal stability of the sample decreases with the increase of the absorbed dose; irradiation in the air atmosphere The elongation of the break and stress of the sample in 

Figure 1. Orientation of PEEK sheet before and after stretching

Figure 2 XRD spectrum of orientation PEEK tablets after irradiation of different absorbent doses

Figure 3 TG and DTG curves of orientation PEEK tablets after irradiation of different absorbent doses

Table 1 TGA data of PEEK samples after irradiation of different absorbed doses

Figure 4 DSC curve of orientation PEEK tablets after irradiation of different absorbent doses

Table 2 DSC data of PEEK samples after irradiation of different absorbed doses

Figure 5 Elongation and stress of oriented PEEK sheet after irradiation of different absorbent doses

Figure 6 Schematic diagram of crystal stretching process of PEEK sheet orientation

Figure 7 Changes in thermal shrinkage rate of orientation PEEK tablets after irradiation with different absorbent doses

(Data and icons are derived from the Journal of Materials Research)

Radiation resistance is one of the key properties of applied materials in the nuclear power industry. Thermoplastic materials may become brittle when subjected to electromagnetic or particle-type ionizing radiation. PEEK polymers have energy-stable chemical structures, and components made of PEEK materials can still function properly even when subjected to high doses of ionizing radiation.   The PEEK polymers in the figure below have higher radiation resistance than other materials. The radiation resistance, excellent electrical properties under high temperature conditions, outstanding mechanical strength, good chemical corrosion resistance, low hygroscopy rate and excellent hydrolysis resistance make it an ideal choice for PEEK material parts in the nuclear power industry.

    (The above illustrations and information are from Vigs VICTREX)

Changzhou Zhongnot Plastic Products provides users with PEEK raw material materials, PEEK profiles, and PEEK product processing services, and recommend and use appropriate materials and grades according to product working conditions. We also support users to provide designated material manufacturers and grade processing services.