High‐Performance Polymers

The various applications of high‐performance polymers , for example in hollow‐fiber membranes (see figure) or as gears in chemical pumps, require materials with widely differing properties. An overview of the different classes of high‐performance polymers available, including polyetherketones, polysulfones, and polyamides, is provided and the various combinations of mechanical strength, thermal stability, chemical resistance, and electrical properties are discussed. magnified image