Manufactured Polymer meets strict requirements for purity.
Press Release Summary:
VICTREX® Ultra-High Purity PEEK(TM) contains no components that could leach into fluid stream or outgas in vacuum or high-heat environments. When heated to 212°F for 30 min, volatile organics outgassed for product measured zero. Product also exhibits plasma erosion resistance, is inherently lubricious, and provides smooth surface finish. Abrasion-resistance prevents particulate generation or sloughing. Product meets purity requirements for various applications.
Original Press Release:
VICTREX® Ultra-High Purity PEEK(TM) Polymer Sets the Standard for Ultimate Purity
Greenville, SC - (July 12, 2004) - Victrex has set a new standard for polymer purity with its introduction of - VICTREX® Ultra-High Purity (UHP) PEEK(TM), a specially manufactured polymer that meets the strictest requirements for purity in clean rooms, wet processing, pharmaceutical processing and analytical chemistry applications. Offering all the mechanical, chemical, thermal and tribological properties of standard Victrex grades, VICTREX UHP PEEK contains no components that could leach into the fluid stream or outgas in vacuum or high heat environments.
"Semiconductor manufacturers are extremely concerned about the level of impurities, especially metallic ions, in their materials because they are capable of migrating onto a wafer causing defects and poor yield," explains John Getz, Victrex Global Industry Leader - Electronics and Semiconductor Markets. When compared to polyimides, VICTREX UHP PEEK has a lower metal content. The selling specifications for VICTREX UHP PEEK set a limit of less than one part per million for a broad range of metals. Additionally, unlike most polyimides, VICTREX PEEK resin can be processed in a wide variety of ways which offers design and manufacturing freedom and potentially lower production costs.
Not only does VICTREX UHP PEEK have exceptional bulk purity, very little leaches from the polymer. "The results of leaching experiments for cations and anions in ultra-pure water confirmed that VICTREX UHP PEEK meets the industry's limit for extractables," says Getz.
VICTREX UHP PEEK also has extremely low outgassing performance due to the polymers inherent stability and the unique manufacturing method. "When heated to 100°C (212°F) for 30 minutes the volatile organics outgassed for VICTREX UHP PEEK measured zero," says Getz.
VICTREX UHP PEEK's exceptional plasma erosion resistance makes it ideal for semiconductor etch processes. In tests performed on sample plaques, VICTREX UHP PEEK exhibited better durability than polyimides in all of the gas mixtures tested. "Additionally, VICTREX UHP PEEK has excellent resistance to a broad range of wet chemicals used in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
"VICTREX UHP PEEK has excellent tribological properties," says Getz. "It is inherently lubricious, provides a very smooth surface finish, and has exceptional abrasion resistance to prevent particulate generation or sloughing." Additional properties include: highest room temperature stiffness of any thermoplastic; excellent fatigue resistance across a broad temperature range; low water absorption which reduces outgassing and improves part dimensional tolerances; very low creep; and superior mechanical properties when compared to fluoropolymers.
VICTREX USA Inc., a division of Victrex plc., is the sole manufacturer and supplier of PEEK(TM) polymer worldwide. For more information on the properties and performance advantages of VICTREX® PEEK(TM) polymer, please call (800) VICTREX or visit the Victrex website at www.victrex.com.
The PEEK(TM) Trademark
For many years Victrex plc has been using the PEEK(TM) trademark to refer to its brand of Polyaryletherketone. Victrex plc is the sole manufacturer and supplier of the PEEK(TM) brand polymer worldwide. PEEK(TM) is a trademark of Victrex plc.
