POSS® Flow masterbatches have shown success in reducing the melt viscosity of a variety of high temperature, difficult to process, thermoplastics. Hybrid Plastics offers such a solution for PEEK. PEEK POSS® Flow is a pellet masterbatch incorporating POSS® Flow in a PEEK carrier that can be used directly in the process or manufacturing stream. For injection molding applications, users will benefit from decreased molding pressures and increased flow for filling intricate and thin-walled parts. This leads to faster cycle times and less scrap. For extrusion applications, POSS® Flow will decrease screw torque, allowing for an increase in extrusion rate. Typical addition levels are 10 to 20%. Adding 20% to a high molecular weight PEEK nearly doubled the MFI and decreased extrusion torque by 28%. At loading levels of up to 50%, there is no appreciable decrease in mechanical properties, including modulus, HDT and elongation to break. PEEK POSS® Flow is especially effective in filled systems. POSS coats and interacts with most fillers (glass, mineral, clay, etc.), improving dispersion and significantly decreasing melt viscosity. |