PEEK · reinforced grade
PEEK-GF30
Properties of the GF30 condition, compared with the other PEEK grades.
Pick for high stiffness and creep resistance at 200–260 °C when electrical insulation must be retained.
What is PEEK-GF30?
PEEK-GF30 is PEEK in the GF30 grade — pick for high stiffness and creep resistance at 200–260 °C when electrical insulation must be retained. PEEK-GF30 has a yield strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) — stronger than 99% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 10.5 GPa (1.52 Msi). PEEK-GF30 has a density of 1.51 g/cm³ (0.0546 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 143°C (289 °F). Virgin is the default condition FabDigit quotes; GF30 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 165 MPa (23.9 ksi), better than 99% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 260°C (500 °F), better than 97% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.43 W/m·K (0.248 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 10.5 GPa (1.52 Msi), better than 94% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.4%, better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 15 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 2.5%, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.51 g/cm³ (0.0546 lb/in³), worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 77% of polymer grades
PEEK-GF30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PEEK-GF30 — 20 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every PEEK grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical5
PEEK-GF30 has a density of 1.51 g/cm³ (0.0546 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 143°C (289 °F).
Mechanical17
PEEK-GF30 has a yield strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) — stronger than 99% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 10.5 GPa (1.52 Msi).
Thermal11
PEEK-GF30 is rated for continuous service to 260°C (500 °F). It conducts heat at 0.43 W/m·K (0.248 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 22 µm/m·K (12.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PEEK-GF30 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 21 kV/mm (533.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 81% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PEEK-GF30 takes about 290 MJ of energy and emits 15 kg of CO₂ — more than 95% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PEEK-GF30's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 77% of polymer grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other PEEK grades and fills
PEEK is also supplied in 12 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the PEEK overview.
- VirginDefaultSpecify when full lot traceability and no reprocessed content are required (semiconductor, aerospace, medical).100 MPa tensile
- UnfilledDefaultPick for maximum toughness, elongation and electrical insulation, or when machining thin/complex parts from rod and plate.100 MPa tensile
- CF30Pick for highest strength/stiffness-to-weight, low CTE, better heat dissipation and static-dissipative behaviour.225 MPa yield · 107 HRM
- GF30Pick for high stiffness and creep resistance at 200–260 °C when electrical insulation must be retained.165 MPa yield · 105 HRM
- CF10Pick when moderate stiffness gain and dimensional stability are wanted while keeping some ductility and machinability.145 MPa tensile
- GF20PEEK compounded with 20% short glass fiber — higher stiffness, strength and creep resistance than unfilled PEEK with HDT near the melting point, at the cost of ductility and impact.140 MPa tensile
- Bearing GradePick for dry-running bushings, wear rings, seals and thrust washers needing low friction and low wear rate at high PV.125 MPa tensile
- ESDPick for semiconductor wafer handling, test sockets and fuel-system parts where charge build-up must be bled off.110 MPa tensile
- PTFE 10%Pick for low-friction sliding parts that must stay electrically insulating and reasonably tough (no fiber reinforcement).90 MPa tensile
- As PrintedUse for prototypes and low-load fixtures; expect anisotropy, partial crystallinity and Z-direction strength far below molded PEEK.85 MPa tensile
Working with PEEK-GF30
Is PEEK easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp carbide (polished flutes, positive rake) and air/flood cooling; glass- and carbon-filled grades are abrasive and want diamond-coated tooling, and thick machined parts should be annealed before finish cuts to avoid stress cracking.
Can PEEK be welded?
Joins by ultrasonic, laser, hot-plate, spin and infrared welding at 380–400 °C interface temperature; no solvent bonding — adhesive joints need plasma or abrasive surface activation.
Can PEEK be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 360–400 °C melt with 170–200 °C mold for full crystallinity; resin must be dried (150 °C, 3 h), runners/gates generous, and slow crystallising thin sections may need post-mold annealing.
What surface finishes work on PEEK?
Can be machined-to-finish, bead-blasted, laser-marked or plasma treated for printing/metallising; not paintable without primer and not anodizable — parts are usually left natural tan or supplied in black.
PEEK chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| glass fiberGF variants only (chopped E-glass, sized for PAEK) | 10 – 40 | 30 |
| carbon fiberCF variants only (PAN-based chopped fiber) | 10 – 40 | 30 |
| PTFEbearing / lubricated variants | 5 – 15 | 10 |
| graphitebearing variants | 5 – 10 | 10 |
| carbon blackblack / ESD variants | 1 – 15 | 3 |
| poly(oxy-1,4-phenylene-oxy-1,4-phenyleneUnfilled grade; polymerised from 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone + hydroquinone in diphenyl sulfone | balance | — |
PEEK-GF30 — frequently asked
What is PEEK-GF30 used for?
PEEK-GF30 is typically used for spinal fusion implants, aerospace seals and back-up rings, downhole oil and gas seals, semiconductor wafer handling fixtures, bearings, bushings and wear pads and compressor valve plates. In short: ultra-performance plastic.
What is the yield strength of PEEK-GF30?
PEEK-GF30 has a typical yield strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) — stronger than 99% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 13 listed tempers.
Is PEEK-GF30 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 77% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp carbide (polished flutes, positive rake) and air/flood cooling; glass- and carbon-filled grades are abrasive and want diamond-coated tooling, and thick machined parts should be annealed before finish cuts to avoid stress cracking.
Can PEEK-GF30 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Joins by ultrasonic, laser, hot-plate, spin and infrared welding at 380–400 °C interface temperature; no solvent bonding — adhesive joints need plasma or abrasive surface activation.
What surface finishes work on PEEK-GF30?
Can be machined-to-finish, bead-blasted, laser-marked or plasma treated for printing/metallising; not paintable without primer and not anodizable — parts are usually left natural tan or supplied in black.
Can PEEK-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 360–400 °C melt with 170–200 °C mold for full crystallinity; resin must be dried (150 °C, 3 h), runners/gates generous, and slow crystallising thin sections may need post-mold annealing.
What is the maximum service temperature of PEEK-GF30?
PEEK-GF30 is rated for continuous use to about 260°C (500 °F), and briefly to 300°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PEEK Virgin and PEEK-CF30?
Virgin is the default condition — specify when full lot traceability and no reprocessed content are required (semiconductor, aerospace, medical). CF30: pick for highest strength/stiffness-to-weight, low CTE, better heat dissipation and static-dissipative behaviour. Yield strength is 165 MPa in Virgin versus 225 MPa in CF30.
Can FabDigit make parts in PEEK-GF30?
Yes — PEEK-GF30 is available for CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- VICTREX PEEK 450G / 450GL30 / 450CA30 / 450FC30 product datasheets — Victrex plc (2023)
- KetaSpire PEEK design & processing guide — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2022)
- TECAPEEK stock shape property tables — Ensinger GmbH (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics multipoint data for PEEK grades — CWFG / CAMPUS (2024)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 / ISO 180 test methods; ASTM D638, D790, D648 — ISO / ASTM (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.