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VICTREX CT™ POLYMERS

Improved sealing in cryogenic conditions
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VICTREX CT™ Polymers for Cryogenic Applications

VICTREX CT™ 100 and CT™ 200 are advanced PAEK-based polymers engineered for reliable sealing at cryogenic temperatures. Designed as high-performance alternatives to fluoropolymers such as PCTFE, they overcome the limitations of traditional materials in low-temperature applications. CT™ 100 provides excellent ductility and toughness down to −196 °C, making it ideal for static seals, while CT™ 200 combines strong chemical resistance with low friction for dynamic and torque-sensitive sealing applications. Both grades deliver low gas permeability, dimensional stability, and consistent mechanical performance across a wide temperature range for demanding LNG, hydrogen, and industrial valve systems.

application areas
LNG

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)

Global LNG demand continues to rise, increasing the need for reliable materials across liquefaction, transport, and regasification. These processes create extreme cryogenic conditions where polymer performance is critical. VICTREX CT™ polymers play a key role by delivering dependable sealing and mechanical performance at cryogenic temperatures.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is emerging as a key energy carrier for power generation, heating, and transportation across land, air, and sea. Realising its full potential depends on efficient, reliable, and safe infrastructure. VICTREX CT™ Polymers, are well suited to support critical hydrogen applications.

Shell MESC compliant VICTREX CT Polymers

VICTREX CT™ polymers meet the CRYO-PEEK specification for cryogenic ball valves in the latest Material and Equipment Standards and Code (MESC) by Shell. 

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properties

VICTREX CT™ Polymers properties

Thermometer

Extending temperature range

Performance at cryogenic (-269°C) to high temperature (+260°C)

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Low coefficient of friction

Low and stable static and dynamic coefficients of friction

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Creep resistance

maintaining its sealing shape even when subjected to extremes of both pressure and temperature

Chemical Resistance Icon showing a conical flask

Chemical resistance

to harsh chemicals and H2(hydrogen), CO2(Carbon dioxide), Helium, Methane, Nitrogen, Ammonia

Low permeability

to H2(hydrogen) and CO2(Carbon dioxide)

CT™ Polymers Valve Design Guide

DOWNLOAD DESIGN GUIDE

Technical Datasheets (TDS)

VIEW GRADES AND TDS

Material Safety Datasheets (MSDS)

VIEW MSDS
products

VICTREX CT™ 100

Datasheets

VICTREX CT™ 200

Datasheets
resources
whitepaper
Improving cryogenic performance with VICTREX CT™ Polymers
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Victrex CT sealing ring
Flyer
VICTREX CT™ polymers: Improve your sealing vs. PCTFE in cryogenic conditions
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Technical Datasheet
View and download the material data you need including VICTREX CT™ polymers.
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whitepaper
Applications of VICTREX™ PEEK Polymers in hydrogen infrastructure
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Contact us

Looking to make a change from PCTFE?

Contact our experts to discuss the benefits of VICTREX CT polymers that can help address challenges and improve sealing performance in touch environments.
FAQ

What makes VICTREX CT™ Polymers different from standard PEEK materials?

VICTREX CT™ Polymers are specifically engineered PEEK grades designed to maintain exceptional ductility and sealing performance at cryogenic temperatures down to -269°C. Unlike standard PEEK, our CT grades offer superior elongation at break and optimised mechanical properties that prevent brittle failure in extreme cold, whilst maintaining performance up to +260°C.

How do VICTREX CT™ Polymers compare to PCTFE in cryogenic valve applications?

VICTREX CT™ Polymers offer several advantages over PCTFE: higher elongation at break with lower modulus for improved ductility, lower and more constant coefficient of thermal expansion for better dimensional stability, higher thermal conductivity for faster temperature response, and a significantly wider operating temperature range (-269°C to +260°C vs PCTFE's limitations). Additionally, CT™ 200 provides lower friction coefficients, enabling smaller actuators and space savings.

What is the Shell MESC specification, and why is it significant?

Shell has specified CRYO PEEK in their MESC SPE 77/302 and 77/200 specifications, making VICTREX CT™ Polymers approved for use in all Shell cryogenic ball valves (-196°C to -101°C, max 150°C) without limitations on size or pressure class. This makes us the first and only PEEK material to achieve this specification from a major oil company, establishing a new industry reference standard.

What validation or testing is required to implement CT™ Polymers in our valves?

The validation process typically involves material property verification, prototype seat insert manufacturing, and performance testing to your specific standards (API 6D, ISO 28921, or company specifications). With Shell MESC approval already achieved, the pathway is established. We provide full technical support, processing guidelines, and can facilitate connections with qualified component manufacturers.

Are VICTREX CT™ Polymers commercially available at scale?

Yes, VICTREX CT™ Polymers are fully industrialised and available through our established global supply chain (contact our team for local support). As the inventors of PEEK with over 40 years of manufacturing excellence, Victrex has the capacity and infrastructure to support projects from prototype to full-scale production.
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