Introducing A New Level Of High Performance, High Temperature Materials, VICTREX MAX-Series Polymer
Thornton Cleveleys, UK – Victrex plc, a leading provider of high performance materials including VICTREX PEEK polymer, VICOTE Coating and APTIV Film, has introduced a new proprietary range of blended products, VICTREX MAX-Series polymer.
This innovative new product line is part of the VICTREX PEEK product family and is designed to perform in the most demanding environments, specifically in applications requiring a combination of high temperature mechanical performance and dimensional stability. VICTREX MAX-Series polymers are a blend of VICTREX PEEK polymer and genuine Extem UH thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) resin from SABIC Innovative Plastics.
"VICTREX MAX-Series polymer is a blend of two complementary, unfilled materials," said Mark Maddern, Global Product Manager at Victrex. "It is designed to fill the performance gap found in many of today's high temperature materials. Finding a melt-processable, ultra-high temperature performance material combined with chemical resistance, high purity, and controlled coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) can be difficult. The MAX-Series product was created to address these challenges and with ability to perform at temperatures in the range of 150-275ºC."
Compared with standard VICTREX PEEK polymer, the new VICTREX MAX-Series product provides a significant performance jump in terms of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. VICTREX T-Series polymer blend, for example, offers excellent mechanical properties and wear performance at elevated temperatures, and VICTREX MAX-series polymer offers better controlled CTE over the whole temperature range.
"We've pulled selected key strengths from both VICTREX PEEK polymer and Extem UH thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) resin to meet customer needs," continued Maddern. "VICTREX PEEK's excellent chemical resistance, hydrolytic stability, long-term heat, and wear resistance combined with Extem resin's dimensional stability, high temperature strength, and HDT/creep creates an exciting material possibility for customers."
The new product will initially be launched with two grades: MAX-Series M1000 polymer and MAX-Series M2000 polymer, each containing different proportions of VICTREX PEEK and Extem resin. Victrex is identifying opportunities for the product across a wide range of markets and applications, including the oil and gas and semiconductor sectors.
For oil and gas applications, long-term reliability and resistance to extreme temperatures, chemical, and wear conditions are critical. This is especially important as operations go into more extreme environments. So, there is an increasing need for tougher, more durable materials for applications such as downhole and subsea electrical connectors and seal rings.
In the semiconductor industry, fabrication facilities are constantly striving to develop components that combine high purity and high temperature resistance. Victrex has a successful history of working with customers in this segment and the VICTREX MAX-Series polymer, which builds upon the solid foundation of VICTREX PEEK polymer, has the potential to offer improved performance for applications such chip trays and test sockets.
"Victrex continues to stay focused on its deep expertise in polyetheretherketones," concluded Maddern. "Our product portfolio has more than doubled in the past three years, and the performance breadth of our products continues to expand through the development of novel polymers, proprietary blends, and high performance compounds. As customers look for a combination of expertise and product performance range, Victrex is well positioned to service ever more challenging needs."
The introduction of VICTREX MAX-Series polymer complements the company's introduction last year of VICTREX T-Series polymer, a range of blends that combine VICTREX PEEK polymer with Celazole PBI (polybenzimidazole). VICTREX T-Series polymer is designed to perform in the most demanding applications requiring high thermal resistance, strength and wear resistance. The product expands on the mechanical and tribological performance of the Victrex grade range at extreme high temperatures (greater than 250?C).
SOURCE: Victrex plc