Solvay Partners with Entegris to Develop Carbon Nanotube-Enhanced PEEK Products

Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC has partnered with Entegris Inc.’s TEGO Polymers unit to develop and market advanced carbon nanotube-enhanced PEEK products. The material is suited for a range of emerging applications in medical technology.

Solvay will supply its KetaSpire PEEK resin to Entegris, which will sell compounds enhanced by its novel carbon nanotube technology (CNT). The compounds are targeted for applications requiring weight reduction, enhanced stiffness and flexibility, thermal management and static charge dissipation.

Entegris has developed proprietary technology for the uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes into PEEK and other thermoplastics to create homogeneous blends. This homogeneity is achieved with unique mixing and characterisation methods at multiple scales.

Unlike other filler materials such as carbon fiber and carbon powder, carbon nanotubes preserve and maintain the properties of the base polymer. These specialised formulations blend single-walled carbon nanotubes or multi-walled carbon nanotubes with a polymer. The CNT materials provide enhanced strength while preserving flexibility, and uniform electrical and thermal conductivity.

Chemically resistant KetaSpire PEEK is also used by Entegris’ TEGO Polymers unit to create other carbon-nanotube enhanced compounds.

Tags: Entegris, KetaSpire, nanotubes, PEEK, Solvay