Solvay Advanced Polymers’ broad portfolio of KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and AvaSpire® modified PEEK resins now includes five wear-resistant grades. These formulations provide an effective all-plastic alternative to more complex metal-based designs with rolling components for high-temperature friction and wear applications in lubricated and non-lubricated environments. The offering includes two KetaSpire PEEK products and three AvaSpire modified PEEK materials designed for high-performance injection molded applications, including seal rings, thrust washers, brake components, gears, and needle bearing replacements for the automotive, industrial, and heavy-duty equipment industries.

KetaSpire PEEK is one of the industry’s most chemically resistant plastics, offering excellent strength, superior fatigue resistance, and a heat deflection temperature up to 315°C (599°F). In this product family, KT-820 SL30 is a graphite/carbon fiber/PTFE-filled grade for non-lubricated and lubricated applications. In non-lubricated environments, it features a limiting PV value (contact pressure times velocity) of 75,000 psi x fpm and exceptional ease of processing, according to Brian Stern, senior global automotive market manager for Solvay Advanced Polymers. The line also includes KT-820 SL45, a carbon fiber/PTFE grade for lubricated environments.

The AvaSpire line of proprietary PEEK-based compounds includes AV-755 SL45, a carbon fiber/graphite-filled grade for high load-bearing applications in lubricated environments. Two carbon fiber/graphite/PTFE-filled grades include AV-742 SL30 (high melt flow) and AV-722 SL30 (low melt flow) for both non-lubricated and lubricated environments. An important advantage of all AvaSpire grades is their comparable strength and modulus, and equivalent or better chemical resistance versus comparable PEEK grades at up to a 30% cost reduction.

About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, healthcare, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.

SOLVAY is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and employs about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR). Details are available at www.solvay.com.

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