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PEEK Rods Mechanical Properties

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● PEEK Rod Mechanical Properties & Wear Resistance: Technical Reference

● Why Mechanical Properties Dictate PEEK Rod Selection

● PEEK Rod Mechanical Properties by Grade

● PEEK rods Grade-Specific Performance(Unfilled & GF30 & CF30 & ESD)

>> Unfilled (Virgin) PEEK Rod

>> GF30 PEEK Rod

>> CF30 PEEK Rod

>> ESD PEEK Rod

>> Bearing-Grade PEEK Rod (CF/PTFE/Graphite Ternary)

● Mechanical Performance at Elevated Temperatures

● Application-Based Grade Selection Guide

● Frequently Asked Questions

>> What is the tensile strength of PEEK rod?

>> Is CF30 PEEK stronger than steel?

>> What is the friction coefficient of PEEK rod?

>> How wear-resistant is CF30 PEEK rod?

>> Can PEEK rod replace metal in load-bearing parts?

>> Does PEEK rod lose strength at high temperature?

● Related Resources

● Summary

PEEK Rod Mechanical Properties & Wear Resistance: Technical Reference

PEEK rods deliver tensile strength from 100 MPa (Unfilled) up to 260 MPa (CF30), flexural modulus from 4.1 GPa to 23 GPa, and compressive strength up to 300 MPa. Unfilled PEEK offers the best toughness and 45% elongation, while CF30 maximizes stiffness, load capacity, and wear resistance for bearing and sliding applications. All grades retain >50% mechanical strength at 260°C continuous service.The ESD (anti-static) PEEK rods possess excellent mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 210 MPa, and also have a controllable surface resistivity ranging from 10⁶to 10⁹ Ω/sq, enabling safe electrostatic dissipation.

high toughness unfilled peek rods

Why Mechanical Properties Dictate PEEK Rod Selection

Engineers don't choose PEEK rods for a single trait—they balance four core mechanical requirements based on application needs:

Load-bearing capacity (tensile/compressive strength)
Dimensional stability under stress (flexural modulus/creep resistance)
Dynamic performance (wear resistance/friction coefficient)
Environmental compatibility (temperature/chemical exposure)

Reinforcement type drives these properties: unfilled PEEK prioritizes toughness, glass fiber (GF30) adds rigidity, and carbon fiber (CF30) delivers maximum strength and wear resistance.

PEEK Rod Mechanical Properties by Grade

Values below are typical reference data per ISO 527 (tensile), ISO 178 (flexural), ISO 604 (compressive), and ASTM D256 (impact). Actual performance varies ±10% by extrusion conditions and bar diameter. Request batch-specific test reports for critical applications.

Property	Test Method	Unfilled PEEK	GF30 PEEK	CF30 PEEK	ESD PEEK
Tensile strength @ 23°C	ISO 527	100 MPa	175 MPa	260 MPa	210MPa
Elongation @ break	ISO 527	45%	2.7%	1.7%	2.1%
Flexural strength	ISO 178	165 MPa	265 MPa	380 MPa	310MPa
Flexural modulus	ISO 178	4.1 GPa	11.3 GPa	23 GPa	16GPa
Compressive strength	ISO 604	125 MPa	250 MPa	300 MPa	-
Notched Izod impact	ISO 180/A	7.5kJ/m²	10kJ/m²	9kJ/m²	8kJ/m²
Shore D Hardness	ISO 868	85	88	88	86

PEEK rods Grade-Specific Performance(Unfilled & GF30 & CF30 & ESD)

Unfilled (Virgin) PEEK Rod

Best for: Medical devices, food-contact components, thin-walled parts, snap-fit assemblies.

Highest elongation and impact toughness of all grades
Excellent fatigue resistance for cyclic loading
FDA-compliant in natural color
Lower stiffness limits use in high-load structural applications

View Unfilled PEEK Rod Specifications

Insulation peek rods

GF30 PEEK Rod

Best for: Structural brackets, pump housings, compressor valve plates, static fixtures.

150% higher flexural modulus than unfilled PEEK
Superior creep resistance at elevated temperatures
More isotropic properties than CF30 (predictable dimensional behavior)
Avoid for sliding/rotating contact—glass fiber increases friction and accelerates mating surface wear

View PEEK GF30 Rod Specifications

high load PEEK GF30 rods

CF30 PEEK Rod

Best for: Bushings, seals, pistons, gears, aerospace components, semiconductor fixtures.

Highest tensile and compressive strength of all PEEK grades
Lowest coefficient of linear thermal expansion (~5 ppm/K)—near-isotropic with metals
Electrically conductive
Thermal conductivity reaches 0.95 W/m·K (4× unfilled PEEK) for improved heat dissipation
Requires hardened mating surfaces (steel/ceramic) to avoid galling

View PEEK CF30 Rod Specifications

carbon fiber PPEK rods

ESD PEEK Rod

30% carbon fiber + ESD-modified, balances static control with high load capacity.

Best for: Wafer carriers, IC test sockets, ESD-safe fixtures, explosion-proof components.

210 MPa tensile strength, retains 90% of CF30's structural performance
Controlled 10⁶–10⁹ Ω/sq surface resistivity (ASTM D257), prevents electrostatic damage
0.2% flow / 0.7% cross-flow mold shrinkage, enables tight-tolerance machining
0.95 W/m·K thermal conductivity, supports heat dissipation in electronics
Electrically conductive, matches CF30’s wear resistance for dynamic parts
Requires hardened mating surfaces (steel/ceramic) to avoid galling

Bearing-Grade PEEK Rod (CF/PTFE/Graphite Ternary)

Best for: Dry-running bearings, reciprocating seals, vacuum-environment sliding parts.

Self-lubricating formulation reduces friction coefficient to 0.05-0.15
Limiting PV value reaches 10+ MPa·m/s (10× higher than unfilled PEEK
Lower noise output compared to metal-on-metal interfaces

Mechanical Performance at Elevated Temperatures

PEEK retains useful mechanical properties far longer than commodity plastics. CF30 PEEK maintains:

160 MPa tensile strength at 125°C
85 MPa tensile strength at 175°C
50 MPa tensile strength at 275°C (well above glass transition temperature of 143°C)

For complete thermal property data including heat deflection temperature and thermal expansion coefficients, refer to PEEK Rod Thermal Performance Data .

Application-Based Grade Selection Guide

Your Application Needs	Recommended Grade	Key Reason
Maximum toughness, fatigue resistance, FDA compliance	Unfilled PEEK	Highest elongation and impact strength
Rigid structural support, minimal creep	GF30 PEEK	Highest flexural modulus
High-load bearing, sliding contact, heat dissipation	CF30 PEEK	Maximum strength and wear resistance
Dry-running bearings, seals, low-noise operation	Bearing-Grade PEEK	Self-lubricating, high PV limit
Electrical insulation	Unfilled/GF30 PEEK	Non-conductive (CF30 is electrically conductive)
Anti-static protection	ESD PEEK	The surface resistance remains stable at 10⁶-10⁹

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tensile strength of PEEK rod?

Unfilled PEEK rod has a tensile strength of 100 MPa at 23°C per ISO 527. CF30 (30% carbon fiber reinforced) reaches 265 MPa—approximately 2.6× stronger, with strength-to-weight ratios comparable to aluminum alloys.

Is CF30 PEEK stronger than steel?

No—CF30 PEEK’s tensile strength (~265 MPa) is roughly 1/3 to 1/4 of structural steel (400-800 MPa). However, it outperforms steel on a strength-to-weight basis, with added benefits of corrosion immunity, self-lubrication, and dielectric isolation.

What is the friction coefficient of PEEK rod?

Against hardened steel in dry conditions:

Unfilled PEEK: 0.30-0.40
GF30 PEEK: 0.35-0.45 (not recommended for sliding contact)
CF30 PEEK: 0.20-0.30
Bearing-grade PEEK: 0.05-0.15

How wear-resistant is CF30 PEEK rod?

CF30 PEEK has a limiting PV value of ~3.4 MPa·m/s in dry running conditions. Bearing-grade variants (carbon fiber + PTFE + graphite) push this to 10+ MPa·m/s—roughly 10× the wear life of unfilled PEEK.

Can PEEK rod replace metal in load-bearing parts?

Yes, in many applications. CF30 PEEK matches mild steel on a per-weight basis while offering corrosion resistance, self-lubrication, and electrical insulation. For extreme compression or high-impact loads, metal or PEEK-metal hybrid designs remain preferable.

Does PEEK rod lose strength at high temperature?

Minimally compared to other plastics. CF30 PEEK retains 160 MPa at 125°C and 85 MPa at 175°C—far better than nylon, polycarbonate, or acrylic, which soften completely below 150°C.

Related Resources

PEEK Rods Selection Guide: Overview of all grades, stock sizes, and tolerances
PEEK Rod Thermal Performance Data : HDT, CLTE, and thermal conductivity specifications
PEEK Sheets & Plates : Flat stock for milling and machining
PEEK Rod CNC Machining Guide : Speeds, feeds, and tooling recommendations

Summary

PEEK rods cover a mechanical envelope from 100 MPa (Unfilled) to 265 MPa (CF30) tensile strength, with compressive strength up to 320 MPa and flexural modulus up to 24 GPa. Grade selection balances three core tradeoffs:

Unfilled prioritizes toughness and purity
GF30 prioritizes rigidity and creep resistance
CF30 prioritizes strength, stiffness, and wear resistance
Bearing grades prioritize self-lubricated dynamic performance

For application-specific recommendations, consult our technical team or refer to the selection guides above.

PEEK rods tensile strength

Rio Liang | High-Performance Plastics Expert

Email: rioplastic@foxmail.com TEL/Whatsapp/Wechat: 008613421811533

20+ Years specializing in PEEK, PPSU, PES, PPS & PEI materil modification. Expert in resolving material properties and injection molding solutions. Open to technical discussions.