PEEK for High-Speed Drone Motor Bearings and Bushings
A high-purity polyether ether ketone (PEEK) compound for machined or injection-molded bearing retainer cages, thrust bushings, and self-lubricating wear pads in drone brushless motor and gimbal pivot assemblies.
Key Features
- ✓Continuous use temperature 260°C — exceeds even high-power brushless motor bearing zone temperatures
- ✓PV limit 500 MPa·m/s — enables self-lubricating operation without grease in sealed motor assemblies
- ✓Flexural modulus 4,200 MPa retained to 200°C — no creep under sustained bearing loads at temperature
- ✓Water absorption <0.1% — eliminates dimensional drift and calibration error in gimbal pivots
- ✓Chemical resistance to fuels, hydraulics and agricultural chemicals — extended field service life
- ✓UL 94 V-0 inherent flame rating — no halogen additives required
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.32 g/cm³ (unfilled) |
| Resin type | Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) |
| Flame rating | UL 94 V-0 |
| Flexural modulus | 4,200 MPa (retained to 200°C) |
| Tensile strength | 100 MPa (23°C, unfilled) |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent to fuels, hydraulics, solvents |
| Continuous use temperature | 260°C |
| Water absorption (equilibrium) | <0.1% |
| PV limit (1 m/s, dry, vs steel) | 500 MPa·m/s |
| Coefficient of friction (dry, vs steel) | 0.12–0.20 |
FAQ
POM and PTFE are viable alternatives for lower-duty drone applications. POM's continuous use temperature is limited to 100°C — adequate for small consumer drones but insufficient for high-power industrial or agricultural drones where motor temperatures regularly reach 130–160°C. PTFE offers very low friction (0.04–0.10) but extremely poor mechanical strength (25 MPa tensile) and a PV limit of only 50 MPa·m/s — suitable only as a thin liner on a metal or PEEK substrate, not as a structural retainer cage. PEEK's combination of Tuse 260°C, PV 500 MPa·m/s, and flexural modulus 4,200 MPa is unique among engineering thermoplastics and justifies its premium price for demanding UAV drivetrain applications.