1. The headline trade-off
PEEK (polyetheretherketone) is the strongest and stiffest commodity-engineering plastic in commercial production. It carries load and survives temperature, but slides poorly on its own.
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the slipperiest plastic ever invented. It survives almost any chemical and any temperature, but it has no strength — it cold-flows under sustained load.
So: PEEK takes the load, PTFE takes the chemistry. The right answer often is both — a PEEK bushing with a PTFE-impregnated bore, or a PEEK + 30% PTFE blend.
2. The 6 selection criteria
| Criterion | PEEK | PTFE |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous service temperature | +260 °C | +260 °C |
| Tensile strength | 110 MPa | 21 MPa |
| Compressive strength | 120 MPa | 12 MPa (cold flows) |
| Friction (μ vs steel, dry) | 0.30 | 0.05-0.10 |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent except H₂SO₄ | Universal |
| Price ($/kg, FOB Qingdao) | $80-$130 | $28-$42 |
| Machinability | Excellent (use carbide tools) | Good (sticky chips) |
| FDA / steam sterilizable | Yes (medical-grade PEEK) | Yes |
3. When to use PEEK
Use PEEK when load is high or temperature is sustained:
- Bushings in continuous metal-machining cooling (oil at 180 °C)
- Bearings inside steam-sterilized medical instruments (autoclave 134 °C × 18 min × 1000 cycles)
- Subsea oil & gas downhole tools (hot brine, 220 °C)
- Aerospace bushings under 80 MPa+ load
- Continuous high-speed (rotating ≥ 5 m/s surface speed) at moderate load
4. When to use PTFE
Use PTFE when chemistry or friction is critical, but load is low:
- Sliding seals in concentrated HCl, HF, or other strong acids/bases
- Static plain bearings under <10 MPa
- Gaskets and O-rings for ultra-clean semiconductor processing
- Food-contact dough-sheeting belts where release is essential
- Cryogenic seals (PTFE remains ductile at -200 °C)
5. Hybrid solutions — often the right answer
If you need PEEK's strength and PTFE's friction, you have three good options:
PEEK + 10-30% PTFE blend (e.g., Victrex 450FC30): bushing is mostly PEEK strength, μ drops from 0.30 to 0.15. JSLT supplies this material in stock rod and tube.
PEEK + 10% carbon + 10% PTFE blend: even higher temp, excellent wear, μ ≈ 0.15. Common in aerospace.
Two-piece bushing: PEEK structural shell + thin PTFE inner liner (bonded or pressed-in). Most expensive but best for the highest-spec applications (offshore Christmas trees, rocket valve bodies).
6. JSLT PEEK and PTFE stock SKUs
We stock natural and carbon-filled PEEK rod (10-150 mm dia), PTFE rod (10-200 mm dia) and PTFE tube. Custom-machined bushings to your drawing in 12-15 days. Email claire@uhwmpe-produce.com with your part drawing for a CIF quote.
📊 Live Pricing & MOQ (FOB Qingdao)
Real prices from our active Alibaba listings. Verified inventory. Lead time 15-30 days.
| Product | Price (FOB) | MOQ | Material | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black White Polyoxymethylene Acetal Tube POM Material Hollow Bar | $1.50 - $3.00 | 1 kilogram | POM (Acetal) |  |
| Hard Plastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ABS Sheet Custom Size | $1.20 - $2.50 | 1 kilogram | ABS |  |
| Transparent 2mm 30mm PMMA UV Printed Board Perspex Plastic Sheet | $1.80 - $4.00 | 1 kilogram | PMMA (Acrylic) |  |
| 100% Virgin Natural Color PPSU Sheet Polyphenylsulfone Board | $15.00 - $35.00 | 1 kilogram | PPSU |  |
| Factory Sale PEEK Rod Sheet 100% Virgin Material PEEK Black Rod | $50.00 - $150.00 | 1 kilogram | PEEK |  |
| High Quality High Temperature Resistant Natural PPSU Plastic Sheet | $20.00 - $45.00 | 1 kilogram | PPSU |  |
| Custom Plastic CNC Machined POM Machined Parts Acetal Components | $0.50 - $10.00 | 1 piece | POM (Acetal) |  |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I use PEEK in concentrated sulphuric acid?
No — PEEK is one of the few chemicals PEEK doesn't tolerate (above 30% H₂SO₄ at room temp). Use PTFE or PFA instead.
❓ Will PTFE bushings deform under load?
Yes — PTFE cold-flows at sustained load above ~10 MPa. For loads above that, use PEEK or PEEK+PTFE blends.
❓ Are PEEK bushings worth the cost?
If equipment downtime cost is >$1000/hr or part replacement is hard (subsea, aerospace, medical), yes. For general industrial use, modified PA66 (nylon) or POM is usually a better value.
❓ Can PEEK be sterilized in autoclave?
Yes — medical-grade PEEK (e.g., Invibio PEEK-OPTIMA) survives 1000+ cycles at 134 °C steam autoclaving with no property loss.
❓ What's the difference between PTFE and ePTFE?
ePTFE (expanded PTFE) is mechanically stretched PTFE with microporous structure, used for gaskets and Gore-Tex. Standard PTFE is solid. JSLT supplies both.
Need a quote on these materials?
Email Claire — full pricing, samples, CIF delivery to your nearest port within 12 hours.
📩 claire@uhwmpe-produce.com 💬 WhatsApp Direct