Medical & Biotechnology
Applications
Ductile, High-Performance
Thermoplastic
45678
ARLON 1000
®
ARLON exhibits excellent creep resistance. In two tests (1450 psi
tension at 302°F for one week, and 725 psi tension at 356°F for
one week) creep was less than 1.75%.
(Polyetheretherketone)
Ductile, High Performance Thermoplastic
ARLON 1000 is a tough, high-temperature, semi-crystalline
thermoplastic offering a unique combination of mechanical,
thermal, chemical and electrical properties. A comparison between
ARLON 1000 and competitive materials appears on page 4.
TABLE 1
TYPICAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Tensile Strength (yield)
Elongation (yield)
Elongation (break)
Tensile Creep:
Initial 302°F (1450 psi)
356°F (725 psi)
One week 302°F (1450 psi)
356°F (725 psi)
Coefficient of Friction (static)
Specific Gravity
Crystalline Melt Temperature
IZOD Impact Strength
Notched
Unnotched
Water Absorption
24 hr/73°F
ASTM D-5701/Equilibrium
15,200 psi
6%
35%
ARLON’s crystalline melting point of 633°F offers potential for
applications at temperatures above 500°F.
As a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, ARLON 1000 has a different coefficient of expansion above and below its glass-transition temperature.
The values are 2.6 x 10¯5 in/in/°F below 302°F and 6.0 x 10¯5 in/in/°F
above 302°F. As with other physical properties, these values can be
significantly improved with the addition of reinforcing agents (Figure 3).
FIGURE 3
FLEXURAL MODULUS vs TEMPERATURE
25
0.9%
1.2%
1.73%
1.70%
0.4
1.30
633°F
FLEXURAL MODULUS
(lb/in2 x 105)
20
Reinforced
Arlon
15
10
Arlon 1000
5
1.6 ft lb/in
No Break
0
50
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
TEMPERATURE (˚F)
0.14%
0.50%
MECHANICAL/THERMAL
ARLON 1000 has a tensile strength at yield of 15,260 psi and an
elongation at yield of 6%. Beyond this, ARLON 1000 will continue
to deform, but will not break until it has been stretched beyond
35% (Table 1).
ARLON offers high shear strength and good resistance to creep.
At room temperature, it has a shear strength greater than
Nylon 6, and at 500°F exceeds the shear strength of PTFE at room
temperature (Figures 1 and 2).
ARLON 1000 has excellent fatigue properties, making it an ideal
candidate for applications requiring a material that performs well
under repeated high stress loads. Not only will ARLON sustain high
loading, but because of its crystalline nature, will withstand loads
below the critical level of 11,000 psi indefinitely. Amorphous materials,
on the other hand, will not exhibit this ability, and show a decline in
the level of stress they can handle with an increase in the number
of times stressed (Refer to Figure 4).
FIGURE 4
FATIGUE
RESISTANCE (73°F)
22
21
20
19
FIGURE 1
TEMPERATURE vs SHEAR STRENGTH
18
17
15
10
15
Nylon
MOS2 Filled
5
14
25% Glass PTFE
PTFE
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
TEMPERATURE (˚F)
FIGURE 2
TEMPERATURE vs TENSILE STRENGTH
TENSILE STRENGTH
(lb/in2 x 103)
30
STRESS, S (103 psi)
SHEAR STRENGTH
(lb/in2 x 103)
16
Arlon 1000
Arlon 1000
(Crystalline)
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
Polycarbonate
(Amorphous)
5
20
10
0
4
Arlon 1000
25% Glass PTFE
50
3
2
PTFE
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
TEMPERATURE (˚F)
1
0
0
10
102
103
104
105
CYCLES TO FAILURE, N
106
107
108
ABRASION
Tests were carried out to determine the relative abrasion
resistance of injection molded ARLON 1000, UHMW polyethylene,
nylon, acetal and PTFE. A Taber abrader was used with a 1000g
loading on the abrader arms, with a CS 17 wheel. Results are
shown in Table 2.
APPLICATIONS
ARLON 1000 shows potential in a broad range of applications.
TABLE 2
TABER ABRADER RESULTS
ARLON is also becoming the number one choice for design
engineers when working on surgical instruments. It exhibits
excellent fatigue and impact resistance and will not degrade
following steam autoclave cycles (see Table 3).
MATERIAL
ARLON 1000
UHMW polyethylene
Nylon 6
Acetal
PTFE
Mg/1000 CYCLES
1.0
0.4
5.0
9.0
7.0
TABLE 3
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE CHART
MEDIA
EXPOSURE
(Acid) 50% Sulfuric Acid
30 days @ 100°C
(Base) 50% Potassium
120 min @ 5,800 psi
Hydroxide
stress and 120°C
Aromatic Hydrocarbon
Trichlorobenzene
30 days @ 200°C
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon
Tetraethyl Lead
30 days @ 73°C
Ethylene Oxide
90 days @ 25°C
Water
200 days @ 100°C
EFFECT
+0.7% wt. change
No measurable
change
+4.9% wt. change
No measurable
change
+.29% wt. change
No loss in strength
CHEMICAL
Since ARLON 1000 is a crystalline polymer, its resistance to chemical
attack is excellent (its only known solvent is concentrated sulfuric
acid). ARLON is recommended for most environments other than
strong oxidizers; it exhibits compatibility with acids, bases, aliphatic
and aromatic hydrocarbons. Unlike many competitive thermoplastics,
ARLON will not hydrolyze and is recommended for use in steam or
other high-temperature aqueous environments (Table 3).
ARLON 1000 generates no extractables, therefore it is ideal for use
in food, pharmaceutical and other industries where microcontamination is a problem.
ARLON is frequently specified for liquid chromatography,
components such as guard columns, fittings and pump heads.
We are also seeing components being evaluated for use in drug
discovery equipment, for example microfluidic substrates.
TABLE 4
TYPICAL ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
PROPERTY
Volume Resistivity
Dielectric constant: 60Hz
106 Hz
Loss Tangent: 60Hz
106 Hz
Dielectric Strength
(Thickness dependent)
Corrosion Liability Factor
(CLF)
Tracking Resistance (CTI)
TEST METHOD UNITS
VALUE
ASTM D257
Ohm cm 4-9x1016
ASTM D150
--3.2
3.5
ASTM D150
0.001
0.003
ASTM D149
KV/in
480
1EC426
DIN53480
VDE0303 (kc)
---
5
Volts
175
ASTM D495
---
20-120
Arc Resistance
(tungsten carbide electrodes)
TABLE 5
GENERAL RADIATION RESISTANCE
MEDIA
EXPOSURE LEVEL
Dry
1000 MRads
Hydrochloric Acid
1000 MRads
Nitric Acid
1000 MRads
Alkali
1000 MRads
TYPE
Gamma
Gamma
Gamma
Gamma
EFFECT
No embrittlement
No embrittlement
No embrittlement
No embrittlement
AVAILABILITY
ARLON 1000 is available in rod, tube and disc as well as in injection
molded and machined components. Some limitations exist in
diameters and lengths of stock shapes.
ELECTRICAL
ARLON has excellent dielectric strength, and shows good insulating
properties at elevated temperatures. On combustion, ARLON produces
low smoke and non-toxic emissions (Table 4).
RADIATION RESISTANCE
Radiation resistance is a common weakness of PTFE and other
thermoplastics; it’s one of ARLON’s strengths. ARLON offers
excellent resistance to embrittlement when exposed to gamma
radiation, and has outperformed polystyrene, a common
radiation resistance material. In addition, this resistance is
maintained in both acid and alkali media (Table 5).
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TABLE 6
A COMPARISON OF TYPICAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
UNITS
ARLON®
1000
Specific Gravity
Hardness
Tensile Strength
Tensile Elongation
Flexural Strength
--Shore
psi
%
psi
1.32
D85
15,260
35
16,000
Flexural Modulus
psi
638,000
Nylon 6
MOS2
FILLED
1.16
D80-85
12,000
28
16,00017,500
---
psi
psi
psi
psi
psi
12,000
11,000
9,000
6,500
3,800
ft.-lbs./in.
ft.-lbs./in.
1.6
---
PROPERTY
Shear Strength
@ 100ºF
@ 200ºF
@ 300ºF
@ 400ºF
@ 500ºF
Impact Strength
Notched IZOD
Tensile
*Rockwell “E” Scale
ACETAL
TFE
1.41
D85
9,400
7
13,00015,500
375,000500,000
2.20
D50-55
4,000
300
No break
10,250
8,500
6,000
4,500
---
7,500
6,500
4,000
-----
2,800
1,900
1,700
-----
--80-130
--40-90
--30-200
✝ Kel-F is a trademark of 3M Co.
TFE
GLASS
FILLED
2.19
D50-60
2,000
200
---
90,000
110,000
Kel-F
✝
TEFZEL ✝✝
VESPEL✝✝
2.15
D75-80
5,700
150
8,500
1.70
D75
7,500
200
---
1.43
*E45-58
12,500
5-6
14,000
---
180,000
200,000
460,000
3,400
2,750
2,500
-----
-----------
4,500
3,300
2,250
-----
-----------
2.7
---
5
---
No break
---
1.5
---
✝✝ Tefzel & Vespel are trademarks of DuPont Co.
PROCESS AND DESIGN
While the ultimate performance of any thermoplastic component is
limited by the inherent properties of the basic polymer, crystalline
materials, such as ARLON, are extremely processing-sensitive.
Greene, Tweed exercises tight control over preconditioning, molding and post-molding operations which can affect the level and
type of crystallinity of the resulting material. In addition, Greene,
Tweed custom designs take full advantage of ARLON’s strengths
while minimizing trade-offs.
Typical Engineered Grades include:
ARLON 1160 – glass reinforced – higher mechanical strength at
elevated temperatures
ARLON 1260 – carbon fiber reinforced – ultimate mechanical
strength at elevated temperatures
ARLON 1555 – carbon fiber/lubricated – higher mechanical
strength at elevated temperatures, lubricated for lower
friction and improved wear resistance
ARLON 1330 – lubricated – lower friction, improved wear resistance
Greene, Tweed uses only virgin raw material.
For information on Engineered Grades, contact Greene, Tweed.
ENGINEERED GRADES
Greene, Tweed materials specialists continue to develop special
grades of ARLON to meet specific requirements. Reinforced grades
are available to assure better wear and high strength at elevated
temperatures and to improve dimensional stability. Lubricant is
also added to certain grades to minimize friction and improve
wear resistance.
45678
Corporate Headquarters
2075 Detwiler Road, P.O.Box 305
Kulpsville, PA 19443 USA
Tel: (215) 256-9521
Fax: (215) 256-0189
SPECIALTY GRADES AVAILABLE
Property Data are typical averages and, therefore, should be used only
as a general guide and not for specification purposes.
Greene, Tweed & Co. Medical & Biotechnology
United States
Medical & Biotechnology
Group
2374 North Penn Road
Hatfield, PA 19440 USA
Tel: (215) 996-4700
Fax: (215) 996-4747
Singapore
Germany
Tel: (65) 6 481-2808
Fax: (65) 6 481-7338
Tel: +49 (0) 6192 92 99 50
Fax: +49 (0) 6192 90 03 16
Italy
Europe
Benelux B.V.
Asia
Tel: +31 (0) 164 612 123
Fax: +31 (0) 164 610 030
Japan
France
Tel: 81-3-3454-1050
Fax: 81-3-3454-1040
Tel: +33 (0) 1 30 73 54 44
Fax: +33 (0) 1 30 73 45 75
www.gtcmedical.com
Statements and recommendations in this publication are based on our experience and knowledge
of typical applications of this product and shall not constitute a guarantee of performance nor a
modification or alteration of our standard warranty which shall be applicable to such products.
Tel: +39 (2) 7063 2253
Fax: +39 (2) 7063 3211
Spain
Tel: +34 (9) 3.731.05.38
Fax: +34 (9) 3.731.06.06
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 115 9315 777
Fax: +44 (0) 115 9315 888
Greene, Tweed & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Arlon® is a registered trademark of Greene, Tweed & Co
.
Copyright 2002 Greene, Tweed & Co. 02/02-LA-5M