In addition to traditional industrial plastics (General Engineering Plastics, abbreviated as GEP) such as HMPE, PA, POM and PETP, more advanced materials are also available. These are known as Advanced Engineering Plastics, abbreviated as AEP.
These materials are often developed for a specific application. The resulting material then offers numerous opportunities for use in other application areas. Although these materials are generally more expensive, they clearly pay for themselves as an investment due to their performance.
Specific properties
The specific properties of such materials may include excellent friction and wear behaviour, very high dimensional stability, good resistance to high-energy radiation such as gamma rays and X-rays, as well as good electrical insulating and dielectric properties.
This results, for example, in a significantly longer service life, reduced wear of the mating component, or a higher quality end product. Another example is that, due to extremely good sliding properties without any “stick-slip” behaviour, lighter drive motors can be used. This is a very specific and sustainable advantage.
Examples
Examples of Advanced Engineering Plastics include:
- PTFE
- PEEK
- PEI
- PSU
- PES
- PI
- PPS
- PPE