PEEK CA30 (30% Carbon Fiber Reinforced): Maximum Strength & Wear Resistance Grade
Published: 2026-05-31
PEEK CA30 is the carbon-fiber-reinforced grade of PEEK, offering the highest strength, stiffness, and wear resistance in the PEEK family. The 30% carbon fiber reinforcement (typically PAN-based, 7-10 μm diameter, 100-200 μm fiber length after...
PEEK CA30 is the carbon-fiber-reinforced grade of PEEK, offering the highest strength, stiffness, and wear resistance in the PEEK family. The 30% carbon fiber reinforcement (typically PAN-based, 7-10 μm diameter, 100-200 μm fiber length after compounding) increases flexural modulus by approximately 4.5× (18.5 GPa vs 4.1 GPa for unfilled PEEK), reduces thermal expansion by 75% (to ~12 μm/m·°C — matching aluminum closely enough for press-fit inserts in aluminum housings without loosening over temperature cycling), and increases thermal conductivity by ~3× (0.9 W/m·K vs 0.25 W/m·K for unfilled — dissipates frictional heat in bearing applications).
PEEK CA30 is the premium material for high-PV (pressure×velocity) wear applications: thrust washers, seal rings, compressor valve plates, and gears. The carbon fibers carry the majority of the contact load, reducing the coefficient of friction against hardened steel and enabling PV limits approximately 5× higher than unfilled PEEK. However, the carbon fibers are abrasive to mating surfaces — the counterface should be hardened to minimum 55 HRC (case-hardened 8620 steel, nitrided, or hard-chrome plated). Using PEEK CA30 against soft stainless steel (304/316 at ~20 HRC) will result in galling and rapid shaft wear.
Technical Properties
| Density | 1.44 g/cm³ |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 230 MPa |
| Melting Point | 343 °C |
| Shrinkage Rate | 0.5% |
| Flexural Modulus | 18.5 GPa |
| Hdt | 315 °C at 1.82 MPa |
| Continuous Service Temp | 260 °C |
Engineering Tool: Shrinkage & Cost Estimator
Calculate part weight, mold cavity dimensions accounting for shrinkage, and material cost — all locally in your browser.
Equivalents & Cross-References
| Equivalent / Alternate | Action |
|---|---|
| Victrex PEEK 450CA30 | |
| Solvay KetaSpire KT-820CF30 | |
| Evonik Vestakeep CF30 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PEEK CA30 be injection molded with standard equipment?
The processing window is narrower than unfilled PEEK: melt temperature 370-400°C (carbon fiber increases melt viscosity — requires higher melt temperature for equivalent flow), mold temperature 180-220°C (HOTTER than unfilled PEEK's 160-200°C — rapid cooling freezes fiber orientation and increases warpage), injection speed must be fast (carbon-fiber-filled PEEK solidifies faster than unfilled due to higher thermal conductivity — slow injection results in short shots and knit-line weakness). The screw, barrel, and non-return valve MUST be constructed of wear-resistant materials (CPM 9V or equivalent powder-metallurgy tool steel, or bimetallic barrel with nickel-based alloy liner). Standard nitrided screws will lose 0.5-1.0 mm of flight land thickness within 5,000-10,000 cycles processing CF-PEEK — dimensional changes cause check-ring leakage and inconsistent shot size.
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References & Industry Standards
- ASTM International. Standard Specifications for Engineering Plastics & Thermoplastics. astm.org
- UL Prospector. Plastics & Elastomers Material Database. ulprospector.com
- MatWeb. Material Property Data for Engineering Thermoplastics. matweb.com
- ISO 1043. Plastics — Symbols and Abbreviated Terms. iso.org