PRES manufactures PEEK rods using high molecular weight (HMW) PEEK material. The extended polymer chains create a highly entangled molecular structure, delivering exceptional toughness, impact resistance, and fatigue life.
Compared to standard viscosity grades, PEEK rods offer significantly higher elongation at break and superior resistance to crack propagation under cyclic loading.
Components machined from these rods retain full structural integrity even in thick cross-sections and long-term dynamic applications, making them ideal for demanding industrial environments.
As a leading PEEK rods manufacturer, PRES supplies stock shapes engineered to deliver the following intrinsic performance advantages:
PEEK Rod Thermal Performance Data— Continuous service at 260°C, short-term peaks up to 300°C+, with a melting point around 343°C and UL 94 V-0 flammability rating without additives.
Exceptional Mechanical Strength — Tensile strength from 100 MPa (Unfilled) up to 260 MPa (CF30), with outstanding fatigue resistance among all thermoplastics, comparable to certain metal alloys.
Superior Chemical and Hydrolysis Resistance — Impervious to most acids, bases, organic solvents, and oils; withstands high-pressure steam and repeated sterilization cycles.
Excellent Wear Resistance and Self-Lubrication — Low coefficient of friction (0.28–0.38 dry), ideal for bearing, bushing, and gear applications without external lubrication.
Outstanding Dimensional Stability — Low coefficient of thermal expansion, minimal moisture absorption (≤0.5%), and high creep resistance under sustained load.
Reliable Electrical and Safety Profile — Volume resistivity up to 1016 Ω·cm (Unfilled), stable dielectric properties across a wide temperature range, and low smoke/toxic gas emission when exposed to flame.
PRES supplies PEEK rods in a comprehensive range of dimensions to meet diverse machining requirements:
Diameter range: Unfilled PEEK rods from 1–120 mm; GF30 / CF30 / ESD grades from 5–250 mm
Standard length: 1000 mm (2000 mm / 3000 mm available for specific grades)
Colors: Natural beige (Unfilled, GF30), Black (CF30, ESD)
Custom services: Cut-to-length, CNC machining, custom diameters, and tolerances
Certifications: Manufactured under ISO 9001; compliant with ISO 527, ISO 75, ISO 22007-4 testing standards
Thanks to their exceptional performance profile, PEEK rods are trusted across the most demanding industries:
Semiconductor and Electronics: Wafer carriers, CMP rings, test sockets, insulating spacers, high-frequency connectors
Medical and Food: Surgical instruments, orthopedic implant blanks, food-contact parts (FDA-compliant Unfilled grade)
Aerospace: Interior brackets, structural clips, high-load bearings, seals for extreme environments
Oil and Gas / Chemical: Valve seats, pump components, compressor seals, downhole tool parts
Industrial Machinery: Precision gears, bushings, wear rings, guide rails, and structural components
Automotive: Transmission bearings, brake system components, engine peripheral parts
Your primary performance driver determines the optimal grade:
toughness and purity → Unfilled;
rigidity and dimensional stability → GF30;
maximum strength and wear resistance → CF30;
ESD protection → ESD grade.
See our detailed PEEK Rod Selection Guide below, or contact our technical team for application-specific recommendations.
The table below summarizes the key mechanical, thermal and processing differences between the three PEEK rod grades, helping you quickly narrow down the right material.
Property | Unfilled PEEK | PEEK GF30 | PEEK CF30 | Test Standard |
Tensile Strength | 100 MPa | 175 MPa | 260 MPa | ISO 527 |
Flexural Modulus | 4.1 GPa | 11.3 GPa | 23 GPa | ISO 178 |
HDT (1.82 MPa) | 163 °C | ~315 °C | 328 °C | ISO 75 |
Continuous Temp. | 260 °C | 260 °C | 260 °C | UL 746 |
Density | 1.30 g/cm³ | 1.51 g/cm³ | 1.4 g/cm³ | ISO 1183 |
Friction Coeff. | 0.30–0.38 | 0.38–0.46 | 0.28 | — |
Wear Resistance | Good | Improved | Exceptional | — |
Thermal Conductivity | 0.25 W/m·K | 0.35 W/m·K | 0.95 W/m·K | ISO 22007-4 |
Water Abs. (24h) | 0.5% | 0.11% | 0.06% | ISO 62 |
Color | Natural Beige | Beige | Black | — |
Electrical | Insulating | Insulating | Conductive | — |
Machining | Easy | Moderate | Hard (abrasive) | — |
Note: Values are typical and intended for comparison. Always consult the full datasheet and validate with application-specific testing before finalizing design specifications.
Choosing the right PEEK rod grade depends on the primary performance driver of your application. Use the decision flow below as a starting point, then verify with our technical team for critical parts.
what property matters most: toughness/impact resistance, stiffness under load, wear/ friction performance, or electrical behavior.
• Highest toughness, chemical purity, electrical insulation, food/medical contact → Unfilled PEEK Rod
• High rigidity + dimensional stability + insulation at a moderate cost → PEEK GF30 Rod
• Maximum strength, wear resistance, low CTE, heat dissipation, or ESD-safe → PEEK CF30 Rod
Cross-check your selection against these secondary considerations:
• Temperature: All three grades share a 260 °C continuous rating. For short-term peaks to 300 °C, all are suitable.
• Electrical: Need insulation? Avoid CF30. Unfilled and GF30 both exceed 1013 Ω·cm.
• Weight: CF30 is the lightest (1.39 g/cm³); GF30 is the heaviest (1.51 g/cm³).
• Machining: Unfilled is easiest on tools. CF30 is abrasive — use carbide or PCD tooling.
• Color / Cleanroom: Natural beige shows contamination; black CF30 hides it but complicates visual inspection
PEEK rods are well-suited to CNC turning, milling, grinding and drilling. Following a few best-practice rules will extend tool life, preserve dimensional accuracy and prevent stress cracking.
• Use sharp carbide or PCD tooling; avoid HSS on CF30 (rapid dulling).
• Apply compressed-air cooling rather than liquid coolant to prevent moisture absorption.
• Moderate cutting speeds with consistent feed; avoid excessive heat buildup.
• PEEK has a high coefficient of thermal expansion — allow for spring-back and thermal drift in tight-tolerance parts.
• Deburr gently to avoid surface micro-cracks that could propagate under load.
• Unfilled PEEK: Easiest to machine; standard carbide tooling is sufficient. Achieves the best surface finish.
• PEEK GF30: Glass fibers are moderately abrasive. Use coated carbide inserts and inspect tool wear regularly.
• PEEK CF30: Carbon fiber is highly abrasive. PCD (polycrystalline diamond) tooling is strongly recommended for production runs; expect higher tool wear than with GF30.
For parts with very tight tolerances or operating under sustained load, a post-machining anneal (e.g., 150 °C for 2 h, slow cool) relieves residual stress and improves dimensional stability.
Q1. What is the difference between Unfilled, GF30 and CF30 PEEK rods?
Unfilled PEEK is pure polymer with the best toughness and chemical resistance. GF30 adds 30% glass fiber for higher stiffness and dimensional stability. CF30 adds 30% carbon fiber for the highest strength, wear resistance and thermal conductivity, but it is electrically conductive.
Q2. Which PEEK rod grade should I choose for electrical insulation?
Choose Unfilled PEEK or PEEK GF30 — both have volume resistivity above 1013 Ω·cm. PEEK CF30 is electrically conductive due to carbon fiber and must not be used where dielectric isolation is required.
Q3. Can PEEK rods be used in contact with food or medical devices?
Yes. Unfilled PEEK is available in FDA-compliant and USP Class VI grades, suitable for repeated food contact and certain medical device applications. Always confirm the specific grade certification with our team before specification.
Q4. What diameters and lengths are available?
Unfilled PEEK rods:1-200mm,orthers Standard diameters range from 5 mm to 250 mm, with a standard length of 1000 mm. Cut-to-length and custom diameters are available on request.
Q5. Is PEEK CF30 harder to machine than Unfilled PEEK?
Yes. Carbon fiber is abrasive, so CF30 accelerates tool wear. We recommend carbide or PCD tooling, compressed-air cooling, and moderate cutting speeds. Unfilled PEEK machines similarly to metals and is the easiest grade to process.
Q6. What is the maximum continuous service temperature of PEEK rods?
All three grades (Unfilled, GF30, CF30) share a continuous service temperature of 260 °C and a short-term peak of around 300 °C, with UL 94 V-0 flame rating.
Q7. Do you provide material certificates and datasheets?
Yes. Every PEEK rod shipment is accompanied by a full material datasheet covering tensile strength, modulus, HDT, thermal conductivity and more. Batch-specific certificates of compliance are available on request.
Q8. How does PEEK rod compare to metal rods (stainless steel, aluminum)?
PEEK rods are about 70% lighter than steel, corrosion-resistant to a wide range of chemicals, electrically insulating (except CF30), and often operate without external lubrication. They damp vibration better than metals but have lower absolute strength — use them where weight, corrosion or lubrication-free operation matter most.
Q9. Can PEEK rods be used for bearings and bushings without lubrication?
Yes. Unfilled PEEK and especially PEEK CF30 offer excellent tribological performance and are widely used for dry-running bearings, bushings and wear rings. CF30 is the preferred grade for the most demanding wear environments.
Q10. Do you offer CNC machining and custom parts from PEEK rods?
Yes. PRES provides one-stop service including material supply, cut-to-length, and precision CNC machining. Send us your drawing and we will quote material + machining together.
Need help selecting the right grade, diameter or length? Contact our engineering team — we typically respond within 2 business hours.
• Phone / WeChat / WhatsApp: +86 18676969309
• Email: rioplastic@foxmail.com
• Address: No. 417, Chang Road, Changping Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China
You can also browse our related product lines: PEEK Pellets, PEEK Sheets, PEEK 3D Printing Filaments and PEEK Powder.
