Nickel alloy extruder accessories (such as screws, barrels, etc.) show significant advantages when processing high-performance engineering plastics such as PEEK (polyetheretherketone) due to their unique physical and chemical properties, especially in high-precision, high-temperature, high-wear and corrosion-resistant scenarios. The following are the specific advantages:
- High Temperature Resistance
PEEK processing requirements: The processing temperature of PEEK is as high as 350~400°C, and high temperature stability needs to be maintained for a long time.
Nickel alloy advantages:
Nickel-based alloys (such as Inconel 625, Hastelloy C-276) maintain high strength at 500~1000°C, avoiding screw/barrel deformation or oxidation failure due to thermal expansion. Excellent creep resistance at high temperatures ensures dimensional stability during extrusion and reduces product tolerance fluctuations
- Wear resistance and long life
PEEK characteristic challenges: PEEK has high melt viscosity and is often added with reinforcing fillers such as carbon fiber and glass fiber, which causes severe wear on accessories.
Nickel alloy advantages:
High surface hardness (e.g. the surface hardness of nickel-based alloys sprayed with tungsten carbide can reach HRC 65~70), and wear resistance is 3~5 times higher than that of ordinary nitrided steel.
Reduce the increase in the gap between the screw and the barrel due to wear, and extend the life of accessories to more than 20,000 hours (the life of ordinary steel parts is about 8,000~12,000 hours).
- Chemical resistance
PEEK decomposition risk: PEEK may partially degrade at high temperatures, releasing trace amounts of acidic gases (such as SO₃, HCl) and corroding metal surfaces.
Nickel alloy protection:
Nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy has strong corrosion resistance to acid, alkali and salt media, and the corrosion rate is more than 90% lower than that of ordinary stainless steel.
Avoid metal ion contamination caused by corrosion and ensure the purity of PEEK products (especially in the medical and semiconductor fields).
- Heat Conduction and Temperature Uniformity
Pain points of PEEK processing: Melt viscosity is sensitive to temperature and requires precise temperature control (within ±2°C) to avoid degradation or uneven crystallization.
Nickel alloy optimization:
Nickel alloy has moderate thermal conductivity (e.g. Inconel 718 has a thermal conductivity of about 11.4 W/m·K), which balances the heating and heat dissipation efficiency of the screw.
By rationally designing the screw structure (e.g. barrier screw), combined with the uniform thermal conductivity of nickel alloy, the melt temperature fluctuation is reduced and the product consistency is improved.
- Suitable for highly filled materials
Application scenarios: PEEK is often blended with carbon fiber (CF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc. to enhance wear resistance or lubrication performance.
Nickel alloys advantages:
High hardness surface resists abrasion of fillers and prevents excessive wear of screw fins.Corrosion resistance prevents chemical additives in fillers (such as coupling agents) from corroding accessories.
- Comparison of Economic Benefits
| Index | Ordinary Nitrided Steel Accessories | Nickel Base Alloy Accessories |
| Initial Cost | lower | Higer(2-3 times) |
| Service Life | 8000-12000 hours | More then 20,000 hours |
| Maintenance frequency | Higher(About 6 months for checking or repairing) | Lower( it just needs checking per 2-3 years) |
| Comprehensive cost | High long-term replacement costs | Life cycle cost reduced by 30%~50%. |
Summarize
When processing PEEK, nickel alloy extruder accessories significantly improve processing stability and product quality through core properties such as high temperature resistance, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. They are especially suitable for high value-added fields such as aerospace precision parts, medical implants, and semiconductor packaging materials. Although the initial investment is high, its long life and low maintenance characteristics can significantly reduce the overall cost, making it the preferred solution for the production of high-end PEEK products.
Contact Us Immediately for more Information
Bloom(Suzhou)Materials Co., Ltd
Add: B2106 Wanda Center, Zhangjiagang , Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Tel/what’s up: 0086-13914912658
Email: kara@ttxalloy.com
Web: chinaextruderscrews.com
