In recent years, continuous CF/PEEK composite materials have frequently appeared in medical device exhibitions and have also begun to emerge in medical device companies. What are the unique advantages of this composite material that attracts the attention of the medical device industry?

Continuous CF/PEEK composite material refers to a composite material with continuous carbon fiber CF as reinforcement and PEEK, the first special engineering plastic, as matrix. The two are formed through a high temperature and high pressure molding process, and the resin material is impregnated into the carbon fiber. The two are organically combined to form a composite material.

Compared with conventional continuous CF reinforced epoxy resin-based composite materials, PEEK has a wider range of clinical applications and better performance. Epoxy resin, as a typical thermosetting resin matrix, has the characteristics of greater brittleness and relatively lower temperature resistance compared to PEEK. At the same time, epoxy resin has poor hydrolysis resistance, while PEEK has good hydrolysis resistance. The elongation of epoxy resin itself is between 5-7%, while the elongation of PEEK resin can reach more than 20%. The high toughness of PEEK material makes up for the defects of epoxy resin. Good toughness means that the material has good fatigue resistance, good interlayer bonding, and is not easy to crack. =”” yahei=””>

The pure PEEK resin matrix material can withstand temperatures above 260°C for a long time. The continuous CF/PEEK composite material greatly improves the temperature resistance of the PEEK material. Relevant research shows that the temperature resistance of the continuous CF/PEEK composite material is close to the melting point of PEEK, which is 334°C. The high temperature resistance and low hydrolysis characteristics enable the medical devices made of CF-PEEK material to withstand repeated high temperature and high pressure wet heat sterilization.

Compared with traditional aluminum alloy and stainless steel materials, the density of aluminum alloy is 2.8g/cm³, the density of stainless steel is 7.3g/cm³, and the density of continuous CF/PEEK composite materials is 1.5-1.6g/cm³, which is light in weight but high in strength. Test results show that some of the properties of CF-PEEK have exceeded those of stainless steel. At the same time, continuous carbon fiber reinforced PEEK has good X-ray transmittance, making clinical surgery more intuitive and safe. Carbon fiber reinforced materials do not feel as cold as metal, and doctors feel more comfortable holding them during surgery.

Compared with traditional carbon fiber powder modified PEEKCF30 material, the high strength and high modulus characteristics of CF-PEEK give the composite material very high strength, modulus and deformation resistance. The mechanical strength is increased by at least 3 times, and the modulus is also increased by at least 3 times, making it have better dimensional stability and deformation resistance.

Continuous CF/PEEK composite with

Performance Comparison of Carbon Fiber Powder Modified PEEK and Aluminum Alloy