PEEK Carbon Fiber Reinforced (CF30): Mechanical Properties & Processing Guide
Published: 2026-05-27
Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CF30) represents the highest-performance grade of PEEK available for structural applications. With 30% carbon fiber loading, it achieves a flexural modulus of 20 GPa — nearly 5x that of unfilled PEEK — making it...
Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CF30) represents the highest-performance grade of PEEK available for structural applications. With 30% carbon fiber loading, it achieves a flexural modulus of 20 GPa — nearly 5x that of unfilled PEEK — making it suitable for high-load aerospace and oil & gas components where metal replacement is considered.
Processing Challenges
CF30 PEEK requires mold temperatures of 180-210°C — significantly higher than unfilled PEEK (160-190°C). The carbon fiber increases thermal conductivity, which accelerates cooling and can cause premature freeze-off in thin-wall sections. Injection speeds must be higher than unfilled PEEK to compensate. Hot runner systems are strongly recommended; cold runners will cause fiber orientation inconsistencies at the gate.
Wear & Tribology
Carbon fiber reinforcement reduces the coefficient of friction against steel from ~0.35 (unfilled PEEK) to ~0.22, with PV limit increasing from 3.5 to 12.5 MPa·m/s. This makes CF30 PEEK the material of choice for high-PV bushings, thrust washers, and seal rings in downhole drilling tools.
Technical Properties
| Density | 1.44 g/cm³ |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 220 MPa |
| Melting Point | 343 °C |
| Shrinkage Rate | 0.15% |
| Flexural Modulus | 20 GPa |
| Hdt | 315 °C at 1.82 MPa |
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 | |
| Ketron PEEK-CF30 | |
| Tecapeek CF30 |
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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