The application of peek material in the automobile manufacturing industry

The application of peek material in the automobile manufacturing industry

PEEK machined parts: The raw materials used to manufacture its bearing components largely determine the performance and reliability of rolling bearings. To meet the extremely demanding applications in the automotive field, engineers are turning to high-performance materials such as PEEK machined polymer materials in the design of deep groove ball bearings.

The cage is not only affected by mechanical stress such as friction, tension and inertial force, but also needs to bear the chemical action produced by certain lubricants, lubricating additives or their aging products, organic solvents or coolants. The relative extent of such matters may be affected by other operating parameters, including high temperatures, shock loads, vibration, or a combination of these and other conditions. Therefore, both design and material play a decisive role in the performance of the cage and the operational reliability of the bearing itself. This is why engineers have developed cage variants based on the PEEK machined polymer material and designed them for the requirements of the automotive industry.

Polymer cages are characterized by a combination of strength and elasticity. The good sliding properties of the polymeric material on the lubricated steel surface and the smoothness of the cage surface in contact with the rolling elements result in extremely low friction, which keeps the heat and wear of the bearing at a minimum level. Low density material means low inertia of the cage. Even in the absence of lubricant, the polymer material cage has excellent running performance, so the bearing will not have the risk of seizure and secondary damage after continuous operation for a period of time.

The material used for most injection molded cages is PA66 (polyamide 6,6). The mechanical properties of polymeric materials, such as strength and elasticity, are temperature dependent and undergo permanent changes under operating conditions – this is called aging. During the aging process, the temperature to which the polymer is exposed, the time experienced and the medium (lubricant) it is exposed to are all critical factors. Apparently, the life of the cage decreases with increasing temperature and aggressiveness of the lubricant. Certain media are so aggressive that cages made of glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide 6,6 cannot be used at operating temperatures above +70°C. A typical example is ammonia used as a refrigerant in compressors.

It is for this reason that engineers commonly use glass-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in their cages for applications such as alternators or transformers that have stringent requirements for high speed, chemical attack, or high temperature. The extraordinary performance of PEEK machined parts is due to its combination of outstanding strength and toughness, wide operating temperature range, high chemical corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and ease of processing. Not only that, but at temperatures up to +200°C, the material shows no signs of aging due to temperature and lubricant additives. With these outstanding properties, machined PEEK cages are well suited for ball and roller bearings (such as hybrid or high precision bearings) as well as certain custom automotive bearing varieties.

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