Select the material for the application
Temperature, media exposure, sterilisation, mechanical load, friction, insulation and documentation requirements determine which material is technically suitable for the specific part function.
High-Performance Polymers
High-Performance Polymers for Demanding Plastic Parts
When high-performance plastics are appropriate
Whether a high-performance polymer is required depends on the actual load on the part – not on the material class. A technical benefit only arises when standard plastics can no longer meet the required function reliably.
The material name alone is not decisive. Geometry, wall thicknesses, gating, demoulding, mould temperature control and process window determine whether a material suits the application and can be processed reliably in production.
Material selection goes beyond the data sheet
PEEK, PPSU, PEI/ULTEM, PVDF and related materials differ significantly in thermal behaviour, resistance to media, shrinkage, moisture behaviour, surface appearance and processing requirements. A data sheet provides guidance, but cannot replace an application-specific assessment of the actual part.
BERGER therefore assesses the final function of the moulded part: service environment, geometry, reprocessing, required documentation, volumes and production requirements. The result is a sound material choice that also makes economic sense for the application.
Keeping the process under control
High-performance polymers place stringent demands on drying, material preparation, mould temperature control, melt handling and residence time. With PEEK, crystallinity, controlled cooling, venting and precisely executed parting lines also need to be considered. Our technical article “Processing PEEK precisely in injection moulding” examines the key relationships between tooling and the production process in more detail.
Material-specific design and processing
Control material condition
A reproducible material condition requires controlled drying, storage and material feeding; these conditions must remain stable across batches and production restarts.
Design part and mould for the material
Shrinkage, warpage, fibre behaviour, mould temperature control, gating and demoulding must be matched to the material so that its properties can be realised in the moulded part.
Maintain properties throughout production
High-performance polymers are often used in function-critical applications. Dimensional accuracy, surface quality and function must therefore remain verifiable across batches, restarts and production runs.
From material selection to robust production
The focus is not the material name, but the reliable function of the finished part. Application, material, geometry, tooling and process are assessed together early and developed into a stable production process.
1
Clarify application and material requirements
BERGER assesses temperature, media exposure, mechanical load, sterilisation conditions, installation space and function-critical characteristics together with the required documentation and production requirements.
2
Align part and process with the material
Geometry, mould temperature control, gating, material preparation and process window are planned around the material before material selection becomes a production risk.
3
Ensure reliable production
Inspection characteristics, process monitoring and approvals are defined so that material properties and part function can be verified throughout production.
High-performance polymers must match the application
For PEEK, PPSU, PEI/ULTEM or PVDF, the actual operating limits are therefore decisive: temperature, media exposure, dimensional accuracy, surface quality and mechanical behaviour must remain reproducibly controlled under real operating conditions.
Scope User Ring
- Industry MedTech
- Polymer PEEK
- Weight 44.90 g
- Colour patina green, ruby red, black
Questions about high-performance polymers
When standard plastics cannot reliably meet requirements for temperature, media exposure, sterilisation, mechanical load or dimensional stability.
BERGER typically processes PEEK, PPSU, PEI/ULTEM and PVDF, among others. The specific choice always depends on the application, geometry, required documentation and production requirements.
Drying, material preparation, mould temperature control, melt handling, residence time, gating, venting and demoulding have a strong influence on part quality and properties.
BERGER supports the technical assessment of material, part geometry, processability, tooling concept and production readiness.
Many high-performance polymers such as PEEK or PPSU can be suitable for demanding applications, including those requiring sterilisation. Suitability depends on the sterilisation method, media exposure, required documentation and part function and is assessed for the specific application.
