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PolyEtherKetoneEtherKetoneKetone (PEKEKK) hydrolysis 1

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kevlar49

Materials
Jun 1, 2006
287
Does anyone have information on PolyEtherKetoneEtherKetoneKetone (PEKEKK) hydrolysis resistance? These are found in products like Victrex ST G45.
 
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I believe it is very good, but all I can say is I'm somewhat familiar with the polymer and I've never heard of any problems in that area. PEEK has very good chemical resistance.
 
PEEK is in the same family as PEKEKK but its not the same polymer.
 
I would be more concerned about the filler than the resin. We used PEEK, PEK, PAK in water at 550F for long periods with no degradation. We could break down glass fiber under those conditions.

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Plymouth Tube
 
Would you expect glass to degrade at 302 F in DI water?
 
What do by "glass?" 302F is above boiling point, so are you actually talking about steam?

DI water, as defined by 18 M0hm-cm resistivity, will dissolve atmospheric CO2 when exposed to air, which will make it acidic.

TTFN
faq731-376
7ofakss
 
Sorry wasn't clear. We are maintaining elevated pressure such that the fluid will remain water. There is no replenishing source of air contamination so CO2 will be limited in quantity. Question was directed to EdStainless's comment about glass breaking down.

Does anyone know of a specific database where I might find hydrolysis data?
 
Yes, from experience at lower temperatures, I would expect glass fiber to corrode/break down in 302 F water. I've never found a definitive data base for hydrolysis of polymers. If you find one, please come back here and post a link!
 
There was a lot of work done on polymers for automotive radiator header tanks where they needed a material for extended life in a system at near boil at 15psi the coolant being water or a water/glycol mix.

They ended up with a pretty special grade of glass fibre reinforced nylon 6.6.

They had to use special hydrolysis stabilisers for the polymer as nylons are normally prone to hydrolysis, but they also needed a very special grade of glass fibre. It definitely had a special hydrolysis resistant coating to assist in bonding to the polymer, but I think the actual glass was also a special grade.

How this applies to the OP I'm not quite sure other that to alert him that there is more than one source for potential problems and answers might not be generic.

The raw material manufacturer should be the best source of real data with qualifiers about certain grades.

Regards
Pat
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Sorry, I'll add that we were at high pressures, very much liquid water at 550F.

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Plymouth Tube
 
Pat,

Just curious, having seen a few plastic radiator headers. They look awfully smooth, i.e. I don't see much glass fiber showing on the surface. Is it possible these things get an over-mold, or some kind of secondary (post molding) dip treatment to provide a further barrier between the glass fiber and the liquid?
 
No. They are typically 33 to 35% GF nylon 6.6.

The gloss comes from correct moulding techniques of quite hot melt, very large gate, extremely fast injection speed, a very hot mould and lots of hold up time and pressure.

So called glassy surface is typically really silver streaks caused by glass suck back from the surface as the matrix shrinks and the molten sub surface flows relative to the rubbery surface. The glass fibers are then pulled from the surface leaving little voids that show up silvery in appearance and look like glass fibres.

Regards
Pat
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