To evaluate PEEK for a bushing, guide or sliding washer, identify the grade and describe the actual contact: counterface material, finish, load, speed, lubrication and temperature. PEEK names a polymer family. Formulation and test conditions determine which evidence can support a comparison.
Two PEEK datasheets may address different questions
Victrex identifies 450G as an unreinforced PEEK resin. Its 450FC30 formulation includes carbon fibre, graphite and PTFE and targets tribological applications. That distinction frames a useful question: should the evaluation cover a base material or a formulation developed for sliding contact and wear? It does not assign one friction coefficient or service life to the whole family. See the manufacturer’s 450G and 450FC30 datasheets.
These are examples of manufacturer documentation, not confirmation that PomDepot stocks or can currently supply those grades. A resin datasheet also does not automatically certify a rod, plate or finished component made by another process. Request the identity and documentation of the stock shape actually offered.
Describe the contact system first
| Information | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Counterface | Material, relevant hardness and surface finish | Results against different surfaces are not automatically comparable |
| Motion | Rotation, oscillation or translation, including starts and stops | A continuous-sliding test may not represent another duty cycle |
| Load and contact | Force, geometry, effective area and expected misalignment | Tensile strength is not a bushing load rating |
| Environment | Temperature, fluid, concentration, contamination and lubrication | A dry laboratory result does not establish performance elsewhere |
The design authority needs to relate these inputs to geometry and validation. If a supplier provides a pressure–velocity limit, retain the test method, temperature, counterface and failure criterion. A standalone table value does not define the operating limit of the assembly.
Keep friction, wear and dimensional stability separate
Friction concerns resistance to motion between surfaces. Wear concerns material loss or change under the stated test. A part may also stop functioning because of deformation, clearance change or chemical exposure before a presumed wear limit becomes relevant. Define what constitutes acceptance before comparing datasheets.
Ask for evidence appropriate to the exact grade, motion and conditions. Record whether testing used lubrication and how the result was assessed. A tribological formulation should not be assumed optimal for every counterface, and its designation does not remove the need to validate the assembly.
Build a quotation request that supports comparison
“PEEK for a bushing” leaves most of the application undefined. A useful request identifies the component and drawing, continuous or cyclic operation, shaft surface, environment, and permissible dimensional change or wear. If those criteria are not yet established, say so rather than turning an assumption into a confirmed requirement.
Compare alternatives against the same application record. One may have relevant dry-running data while another has data for lubricated conditions. That evidence gap needs resolving; it is not a universal ranking between materials. Test-specimen performance, stock-shape documentation and functional component testing remain separate records.
Information to send PomDepot
- Requested grade or the existing material reference.
- Required rod, plate or other form, purchase dimensions and quantity.
- Drawing or function, counterface, motion, load and known environmental conditions.
- Required datasheet, traceability or test record and your technical team’s acceptance criteria.
Review the PEEK material family and send a material quotation request. Confirm the actual offered grade, form and documentation. This guide supports an informed enquiry; it does not offer machining, approve an assembly or guarantee stock or delivery timing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a wear-grade PEEK directly replace an unreinforced grade?
A family name cannot establish interchangeability. Compare the exact grade, supplied form, contact evidence and component requirements before approving a substitution.
Is tensile strength sufficient to choose a bushing?
It describes the stated test and can provide context. It does not replace the contact, wear, deformation and temperature evidence needed to evaluate the bushing.
Does this article confirm PomDepot supply of450G or450FC30?
No. They are manufacturer examples used to explain formulation differences. Any offered grade, form, availability and documentation must be confirmed in the quotation.