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Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) vs Polyamide (PA6 / PA66 Nylon) Plastic Gears, Bearings and Wear Parts: Which Material Wins in chemical processing?

2026-09-26 Plastic News 3 views

Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) and Polyamide (PA6 / PA66 Nylon) are the two most quoted options for plastic gears, bearings and wear parts in chemical processing projects. Both are widely available, but they behave very differently once they are in service.

Use it as a working checklist when you write your next enquiry.

Product Overview

This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines plastic gears, bearings and wear parts by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include module 0.3 to 8; plain and self-lubricating grades; bore tolerance H7 to H9. Materials most often specified are UHMWPE, Polyamide, Polyoxymethylene, Polytetrafluoroethylene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.

In the chemical processing sector the decision is usually driven by chemical resistance and temperature resistance, with purity as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include tank linings, dosing pipework, valves.

Key Material Properties

The table below summarises the values that usually decide the material choice.

MaterialDensityTensile strengthService temperature
Glass Filled Nylon1.36-1.38 g/cm³130-190 MPa-40°C to 150°C
Polyamide1.13-1.15 g/cm³60-85 MPa-40°C to 120°C
Polyoxymethylene1.41 g/cm³60-70 MPa-40°C to 100°C

Polyether Ether Ketone is frequently the default selection here: PEEK replaces metal in the hottest and most chemically aggressive service conditions.

Polyether Ether Ketone Compared With Polyamide

Polyether Ether Ketone grades offer retains strength at 250°C, while Polyamide brings high wear and abrasion resistance. For chemical processing service the difference shows up in UV stability and in the long term behaviour under load.

  • Polyether Ether Ketone: PEEK replaces metal in the hottest and most chemically aggressive service conditions.
  • Polyamide: Nylon must be conditioned before machining, otherwise moisture release changes the final dimensions.

Both materials can be validated quickly with a small sample run, which is the cheapest way to settle the argument for your own application.

Common Grades and Variants

  • UHMWPE based: highest impact strength of any thermoplastic
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene based: almost universal chemical inertness
  • Polyoxymethylene based: excellent dimensional stability
  • Glass Filled Nylon based: two to three times the stiffness of unfilled nylon

Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.

Processing and Finishing Options

The route below is the one most factories use for this type of part.

  • Assembly
  • Injection moulding
  • Annealing
  • Cnc machining

Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.

How to Specify Plastic gears, bearings and wear parts Correctly

Use this checklist when comparing two or three supplier quotations.

  1. use metal hubs for high torque
  2. validate with a life cycle test
  3. consider self-lubricating compounds dry running
  4. allow for moisture expansion in nylon
  5. calculate the PV limit before selecting a grade

Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which certifications can you provide?

We can provide ISO 9001 quality system documentation, material certificates, RoHS and REACH statements, and where applicable food contact, flame retardancy or drinking water approvals. Tell us your target market and we will match the document set.

What tolerance can be achieved?

Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.

How do you control colour consistency?

Colour is controlled with a masterbatch reference approved by the customer, and every production lot is checked against the approved sample under standard lighting before shipment.

Do you offer samples?

Yes. Standard samples are normally free of charge and shipped within three working days; custom samples are charged at cost and credited against the first production order.

Can you produce plastic gears, bearings and wear parts in Polyether Ether Ketone?

Yes. {mat1} is one of our regular materials for this item, and we can supply virgin, modified and certified grades with full traceability. Material certificates and test reports are issued per batch.

Conclusion

Share your specification and quantity with us and we will recommend the most cost effective material, tooling route and packing method for your market.

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