PETP

The specific properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) make it a material that is particularly suitable for the manufacture of heavily loaded and/or wear-prone mechanical precision components.

PETP

PETP is a crystalline polyester with high mechanical strength and very good creep resistance and dimensional stability. The material also has a low and constant friction coefficient and is highly wear-resistant. The high hardness of the material makes it sensitive to notch impact. Sharp corners and edges in products should be avoided.

The material distinguishes itself from other wear-resistant plastics through its high tensile and flexural strength and compressive strength. It is one of the hardest types of plastic, does not suffer from creep (cold flow), and absorbs practically no moisture. However, the relative brittleness of the material must be taken into account, which makes it less suitable for impact loads.

PETP has a very low friction coefficient, is self-extinguishing, and is suitable for contact with foodstuffs. Dimensionally stable precision work is the prime application area for this plastic. The material is also available in a self-lubricating (TX) grade.

Key characteristics

Operating temperature: -20˚ to 100˚
High mechanical strength, stiffness, and hardness
Very good creep resistance
Low and constant friction coefficient
Excellent wear resistance (comparable to or even better than the polyamides)
Very high dimensional stability (better than POM)
Stain resistant
Better resistance to acids than PA and POM
Good electrical insulating properties
Physiologically inert (suitable for contact with foodstuffs)
High resistance to high-energy radiation (gamma and X-rays)

Applications of PETP

PETP stands out when dimensional stability and low moisture absorption are essential, particularly for dimensionally stable precision work. Thanks to its low and constant friction coefficient and excellent wear resistance, the material is highly suitable for plain bearing bushings and guides that need to function accurately under continuous load. The high tensile, flexural, and compressive strength also make PETP suitable for gears and precision components that are both mechanically loaded and require an accurate fit.

Due to its good electrical insulating properties, PETP is also used in components where electrical insulation plays a role. Because of its physiological inertness, the material is also suitable for applications within the food industry, where contact with foodstuffs is a requirement. Do take care with designs involving sharp corners or impact loads: due to the material's relative brittleness, gradual shaping is important here.

Typical applications include:

Plain bearing bushings and guides
Gears
Pistons and scrapers
Forming plates
Precision components
Cable pulleys
Components for the food industry where dimensional stability and hygiene are important

Our possibilities

Food grade certified plastics
Components in the food industry are exposed to cleaning agents and temperature fluctuations on a daily basis. Lakwijk selects materials that can withstand this, ranging from standard POM to high-performance PEEK for the most demanding conditions. This helps prevent deformation, wear, and unnecessary downtime.
Custom material advice
Not every plastic behaves the same way under load, moisture, or heat. Lakwijk knows the properties of commonly used materials such as POM, PA, and HMPE, as well as high-performance plastics like PEEK, PAI, and PTFE. By combining this knowledge with your specific application, we advise a material that isn't just suitable on paper, but also performs well in practice.
All processing techniques in-house
Plastic starts out as sheet or rod material and is processed step by step at Lakwijk into a precise end product. Our operators saw, mill, turn, bend, weld, and glue, depending on what the component requires.