All About PEEK Medical Device Fasteners

PEEK Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw

Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer known for its exceptional mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and biocompatibility. Here's an overview of PEEK and why it's an excellent choice for fasteners in medical devices:

Key Properties of PEEK:

  1. High Strength and Stiffness: PEEK exhibits excellent mechanical strength and rigidity, making it suitable for demanding applications where durable and reliable fasteners are required.

  2. Temperature Resistance: PEEK maintains its mechanical properties over a wide temperature range, from -70°C to 250°C. This makes it suitable for sterilization processes, including autoclaving, which is common in medical environments.

  3. Chemical Resistance: PEEK is highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including aggressive cleaning agents and bodily fluids. This ensures that fasteners made from PEEK will not degrade or corrode over time when exposed to these substances.

  4. Biocompatibility: PEEK is biocompatible, meaning it does not produce any adverse biological reactions when in contact with human tissue. This is crucial for medical applications, as fasteners may come into contact with or be implanted in the body.

  5. Low Weight: PEEK is lightweight compared to metals, which is advantageous in reducing the overall weight of medical devices.

  6. Wear and Fatigue Resistance: PEEK exhibits excellent wear resistance and can withstand repetitive stress, making it ideal for fasteners that need to endure long-term use without failure.

  7. Radiolucency: PEEK is radiolucent, meaning it does not interfere with imaging techniques such as X-rays or MRI scans. This property is beneficial for medical devices, as it allows for clear imaging without artifacts caused by metal fasteners.

High-Strength Options

For applications requiring enhanced strength and rigidity, PEEK screws can be reinforced with glass or carbon fibers. These reinforced fasteners provide increased mechanical durability, making them particularly suitable for use in environments exceeding 350°F (175°C).

  • 100% Pure PEEK (Unfilled): Unfilled PEEK, made entirely of polymer with no added fillers, is one of the strongest polymers available. Despite lacking glass or carbon fiber reinforcement, it remains highly versatile and is ideal for applications requiring high purity, such as FDA-compliant food contact situations.

  • PEEK with Glass Fiber Reinforcement: This variant maintains the chemical resistance of natural PEEK but significantly boosts tensile strength, nearly doubling it.

  • PEEK with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement: This option offers about 2.5 times the strength of pure PEEK, making it an excellent choice for the most demanding applications.

Why PEEK is Ideal for Medical Fasteners:

  • Durability: The strength and resistance to wear and fatigue make PEEK fasteners reliable over long periods, even in challenging environments like the human body.

  • Biocompatibility: The ability of PEEK to be used safely in direct contact with body tissues ensures that it meets the stringent safety requirements for medical devices.

  • Chemical and Sterilization Resistance: Fasteners in medical devices often need to withstand aggressive cleaning processes and exposure to various chemicals, all of which PEEK can handle without degrading.

  • Lightweight: Reducing the weight of medical devices can improve patient comfort and ease the handling and transport of these devices by medical professionals.

Overall, PEEK's combination of mechanical strength, chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and other properties make it a superior choice for fasteners in medical devices. These attributes ensure that the fasteners will perform reliably in demanding medical environments, contributing to the safety and efficacy of the devices in which they are used.

For pricing or more information on Polyether Ether Ketone fasteners, contact us at (800) 634-0406.

Kyle Domer