Poly want a cracker?: Polymer Gears at the PEEK of Gear Technology

By now we've all read the June issue of Gear Technology Magazine, and we've all probably stumbled upon the article by Lindsey Snyder entitled At the "PEEK" of the Polymer Food Chain regarding the latest advancements in polymer gears by Victrex. Will PEEK and related technologies soon become the standard in gear manufacturing technologies? How do the benefits of reduced mass and inertia weigh against the loss of durability when switching from a metal to a polymer?

The following statistics are provided by the article from Gear Technologies Magazine:

“By switching from current iron gear to PEEK, we can save roughly 70 percent reduction in mass and almost 80 percent reduction in inertia. The combination results in a three to nine percent power consumption reduction.”

“PEEK features dynamic fatigue resistance at temperatures above 120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit). “

Basically, the polymer gears are preferable in low-heat scenarios in which it is unlikely for the gear to endure enough heat that it would lose strength or stiffness. In most balance shaft modules working in tandem with engines, the temperatures can reach in excess of 155 degrees Celsius, or 311 degrees Fahrenheit, making iron gears still more preferable in most of these engine applications. While the range of applications of polymers in gear manufacturing continues to expand, it is unlikely that they will be taking over the industry any time soon. Although reduced mass and inertia make for higher efficiency systems, the costs to repair or replace polymer gears in most higher-temperature applications is still far too great to warrant serious consideration.

To read the article from Gear Technology Magazine, follow the link:

http://www.geartechnology.com/issues/0610x/victrex.pdf

Or, head to the comments section to voice your opinion!