.High Performance Polymers are at the top of the thermoplastic performance pyramid. This is the target of JIDA Degussa, a joint venture of Degussa High Performance Polymers and Jilin University in China . Degussa believes that PEEK complements its other engineering resins such as nylon 12 and 612, PBT and copolyesters, and is capable of double-digit growth. The venture manufactures Vestakeep PEEK at a plant in Changchun , China . The material is marketed by Degussa HPP and the PEEK development was aided by the 2005 acquisition of know-how and patents from Ticona GmbH in Germany related to polyaryl ether ketones (PAEK). The recent global launch of VESTAKEEP® includes nine grades for injection molding and extrusion. They comprise high and low-viscosity resins, both unfilled and reinforced with up to 30% glass or carbon fiber. VESTAKEEP® boasts an HDT of 153 to 240 degree C and offers mechanical and chemical performance equivalent to competitive PEEK grades.

High-temperature polymer polyether ether ketone (PEEK*) is registered in Germany as VESTAKEEP. VESTAKEEP® compounds are particularly characterized by the following material properties:
very high heat resistance
high rigidity
low water absorption and therefore high dimensional stability
high hardness
good strength
excellent sliding friction behavior, minimal abrasion
good electrical characteristics
excellent chemical resistance
excellent hydrolytic stability
good processability
low tendency to form stress cracks
long-term heat resistance at 260 °C.

This properties profile makes VESTAKEEP® compounds suitable for a wide range of applications. It is used, for example, to produce chip carriers and connectors for the electronics industry and bearings, seals and cables for the automotive and aerospace industries and for rail cars. The machine and apparatus construction industry and the food processing industry have discovered that polyether ether ketone is good for valves and parts that are subjected to severe stress. Medical technology uses it for hoses and instrument handles. VESTAKEEP ® particularly excels through its high mechanical strength and rigidity combined with good electrical insulating properties, as well as offering high resistance to chemicals and very good tribological properties. This is why PEEK is used in many automotive applications � such as pistons and bearings, brakes and air-conditioning systems. A recent example of PEEK in use is in carbon fiber reinforced components that are being successfully used in new types of anti-lock braking systems (ABS). In this application, the material's low weight and reduced moments of inertia allow greatly improved response times to be achieved. Another good example of the superiority of PEEK is electronic drives in automobiles � ranging from electric seat adjustment to headlamp leveling. Less and less space is available in modern vehicles, the gears used in these drives need to be able to transfer higher forces over increasingly smaller areas. Only highly wear resistant parts made from PEEK are able to meet these challenges. In contrast to their metal counterparts, gears made from polymers can easily be manufactured using injection molding. Because gears made from PEEK contain graphite as a filler, the parts become self-lubricating. This means that no additional lubricant is required, and maintenance is reduced.

Commercial applications have been only in Europe so far. Degussa hopes to achieve cost/performance benefits by using PEEK in multi-material systems and multilayer films. Initial cost is competitive with standard PEEK grades. Initial cost will be comparable with standard PEEK grades.