Design Properties for Engineers - Compression Stress of High Performance Polymers

In this blog post, we discuss the compression stress properties of high performance polymers. 

Compression stress is estimated according to ISO 604. In this test, an axial load is put on a cylindrical test specimen. As a result, stress value at a defined compression level is obtained (1%, 2% or 10% in most cases). The higher the compression border, the more stress the tested plastic is able to handle.  

Among high performance polymers, PEEK and PBI have the highest compression values. Also, PAI and PEI show high pressure resistance. PTFE shows compared to the other polymers low compression values. This can be turned into an advantage, i.e. if you need a material which deforms under pressure to obtain a sealing function toward a part then PTFE is most suitable. 

Fiber-reinforced high performance polymers are able to take up a higher compression load at low deformation compared to unreinforced high performance polymers. 

Fiber-reinforced PAI and PEEK are able to handle 50 MPa compression stress and deform only 1%. If you add fiber reinforcement to PTFE, compression stress value will still remain below the unreinforced PI and PAEK. 

All the published design properties of high performance polymers can be found in the start here section of my blog. 

Thank you and #findoutaboutplastics

Greetings, 

Herwig Juster

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Literature: 

[1] Erwin Bauer: Saechtling Kunststoff Taschenbuch

[2] https://www.polytron-gmbh.de/