Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high performance polymer with excellent properties such as high heat resistance, chemical resistance, wear resistance and fatigue resistance. These properties allow PEEK to be used in high-end applications. In addition, its good biocompatibility makes it suitable for medical devices. However, PEEK has a relatively low inherent strength. To improve its properties, carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) has been developed to create a superior composite material.
CFR-PEEK combines the strength of carbon fiber with the properties of PEEK, making it suitable for specialized industries such as medical orthopedics. It meets inspection requirements and ensures biocompatibility. Prior to CFR-PEEK, titanium alloys were widely used in orthopedic applications, despite their drawbacks. Although titanium alloys achieve weight reduction and biocompatibility, as a metal, they can cause blind spots during detection and have less than ideal treatment effects.
Surface tension testing determines the biocompatibility of a material. In our comparison using solid titanium alloy and CFR-PEEK samples of the same diameter, both underwent surface treatment and cleaning to avoid contamination. Using water and ethylene glycol as reagents, the tests showed that the titanium alloy had a lower surface tension than CFR-PEEK. CFR-PEEK also outperforms titanium alloy in terms of dispersion and polarity components. This indicates that CFR-PEEK is superior for medical device materials, which explains its current attention.
