PEEK Specifications — ASTM D6262, MIL Spec & Stock Sizes
PEEK stock shapes — sheet, rod, and tube — are manufactured and qualified against a layered framework of ASTM, NEMA, MIL, FAA, and regulatory standards. Understanding which standard applies to your procurement or quality system saves time at incoming inspection and prevents specification conflicts. This page covers the primary standards, their requirements, and the standard dimensional ranges available from stock.
At a glance:
- Primary dimensional standard: ASTM D6262 (sheet, rod, tube for PEEK and other high-performance plastics)
- Defense/military: MIL-P-46183, AMS 3661 (aerospace adhesive-bonded plastics) used for PEEK in some programs
- FAA flame/smoke/toxicity: FAR 25.853, OSU 65/65 calorimetry for cabin interior use
- Biocompatibility: USP Class VI (in vivo testing); ISO 10993 series for medical devices
- Chemical testing: ASTM D638 (tensile), D790 (flexural), D695 (compressive), D256 (impact)
- Dimensional tolerance: ±10% thickness for sheet per ASTM D6262 Table 1; rod OD ±0.015" standard
ASTM D6262 — Primary Standard for PEEK Stock Shapes
ASTM D6262, Standard Specification for Extruded Sheets and Shapes Made from Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), is the governing dimensional and property specification for extruded PEEK stock. It establishes minimum property requirements, test methods, and marking requirements.
Property Requirements per ASTM D6262 (Type I — Virgin PEEK)
ASTM D6262 uses a type/grade classification: Type I for unfilled PEEK (virgin and 450G); Type II for filled grades (GF30, CF30). Indicate the type and any supplemental property requirements for filled grades, as minimum values differ.
ASTM D6262 minimum values are conservative floors — commercially available PEEK rod and sheet routinely exceeds these by 10–20%. Request a certified test report (CTR) to confirm actual lot values if your design margin depends on it.
ASTM D6262 Certification and Marking
Per the standard, each shipment must be marked with: manufacturer's name, nominal size and form, grade/type designation, lot or batch number, and the ASTM D6262 designation. CoC documents should reference the specific type and edition year.
MIL Specifications
MIL-P-46183
MIL-P-46183, Plastic Material, Thermoplastic, High-Performance, covers PEEK for DoD applications including electrical connectors, bearing cages, and structural components. It references ASTM test methods but adds qualification testing, source approval, and documentation requirements beyond ASTM D6262. For defense procurement, verify whether your program requires QPL listing — not all PEEK rod suppliers are QPL-listed.
AMS Specifications
AMS 3661 and AMS 3662 cover plastic materials for aircraft use and may reference PEEK stock shapes under type/class designations. If your program cites a specific AMS number, confirm applicability to your form factor and grade with your materials engineer.
FAA Flame, Smoke, and Toxicity Requirements
For aircraft cabin interior applications, FAA FAR 25.853 imposes flame, smoke, and toxicity requirements. PEEK meets or exceeds these requirements in standard formulations:
Request test reports for the specific grade and lot. While virgin PEEK broadly meets FAR 25.853, test data must accompany the material on cabin-interior programs. CF30 grade may have different smoke behavior — verify independently.
Biocompatibility and Medical Specifications
USP Class VI
USP Class VI is the highest USP biocompatibility classification for plastics, requiring systemic injection, intracutaneous reactivity, and implantation testing. Virgin PEEK and PEEK 450G routinely carry this certification.
ISO 10993
FDA medical device pathways (510(k), PMA) assess biocompatibility per ISO 10993. USP Class VI is often cited as a proxy but does not replace ISO 10993 cytotoxicity, sensitization, and genotoxicity testing required for the intended use. PEEK passes these tests for short-term contact; long-term implant characterization requires the full ISO 10993 series.
Sterilization Compatibility
| Sterilization Method | PEEK Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Steam autoclave (134°C / 30 min) | Excellent — no degradation after 1,000+ cycles tested |
| EtO (ethylene oxide) | Excellent — no chemical attack or dimensional change |
| Gamma irradiation (25–50 kGy) | Good — minor yellowing; mechanical properties largely retained |
| H₂O₂ plasma (STERRAD) | Excellent |
| Dry heat (180°C) | Excellent |
Electrical and Flame Standards
- UL 94 V-0: PEEK achieves V-0 at all standard thicknesses; GVE rating applies.
- NEMA grades: PEEK is not a laminated thermoset — G-10/G-11 designations do not apply. Specify by ASTM D6262 type.
- IEC 60695: PEEK passes glow-wire at 960°C for electrotechnical applications.
Stock Shape Sizes and Dimensional Tolerances
Sheet
| Thickness (in) | Width × Length (in) | Thickness Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 0.062–0.250 | 12×12, 24×24, 24×48 | ±0.010 in |
| 0.250–0.500 | 12×12, 24×24, 24×48 | ±0.020 in |
| 0.500–1.000 | 12×12, 24×24 | ±0.030 in |
| 1.000–2.000 | 12×12, 24×12 | ±0.060 in |
| 2.000–4.000 | 12×12 | ±0.090 in |
Rod
| Diameter (in) | Standard Lengths | OD Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 0.250–0.750 | 4 ft, 6 ft | ±0.010 in |
| 0.750–2.000 | 4 ft, 6 ft | ±0.015 in |
| 2.000–4.000 | 4 ft | ±0.020 in |
| 4.000–8.000 | 4 ft | ±0.030 in |
| 8.000–12.000 | 4 ft | ±0.040 in |
Tube
OD range 0.5–6.0 in, wall thicknesses 0.062–0.750 in, often cut to order. OD tolerance as-extruded: ±0.015 in; finish-machine ID for tight bore requirements.
For complete PEEK property data, see the PEEK properties datasheet.
Specifying PEEK — Recommended PO Language
A complete PO specification for PEEK stock should include:
- ASTM D6262, Type I (unfilled) or Type II (filled)
- Grade: Virgin / GF30 / CF30 / ELS / 450G
- Form: sheet/rod/tube with nominal size(s)
- Color: natural or black
- Certifications required: FDA 21 CFR 177, USP Class VI, UL 94 V-0
- Resin brand if required: Victrex 450G, Solvay KetaSpire, or Evonik VESTAKEEP
- Documentation: certificate of conformance, test report, resin certificate
For competing material specifications and thermal capability, see the PEEK vs Ultem comparison and the PEEK comparisons hub.
Order certified PEEK stock to ASTM D6262 — sheet, rod, tube
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