HOW PAEK COMPARES TO GLASS-TO-METAL SEALED CONNECTORS LAUREN RAINEY PRODUCT MARKETING ANALYST GREENE TWEED
While the traditional method of Glass-to-Metal Seal (GTMS) connectors serves as an effective hermetic barrier and electrical insulator for a broad spectrum of medical, automotive, aerospace, military, and low-pressure geophysical applications, advanced thermoplastics developed over the past three decades have proven to be a superior solution for the most extreme operating environments. Within the PAEK (Polyaryletherketone) thermoplastics category, an evolving set of new PEEK (polyetheretherketone) and PEK (polyetherketone) compounds provide the thermal stability, mechanical strength, low wear, chemical resistance, insulation resistance, and pin density required for the most demanding electrical connector applications, including aircraft engines and HPHT (High Pressure,
High Temperature) oil & gas drilling operations.
GLASS SEALING Since the 17th century, glass-to-metal seals have provided airtight barriers and have been developed to provide a combination of hermetic sealing and electrical insulation. Within a glass-to-metal sealed connector, glass is melted to encapsulate both the metal pin and the package to provide conductive insulation between the housing and the pins. A visible oxide layer is formed on the metal components which allows glass flow and adhesion. The strength of the seal is limited by the oxide layer. An additional step is required during the manufacturing process to remove the oxide from the other surfaces of the connector, which risks possible contamination.
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