Question and Answer 
During the last ten years, the development of 3D printing technology went on at a fast pace and came up with many new materials for 3D printers. Polyether ether ketone, known as PEEK, is one such material that has gained popularity recently.
Bonker Plastics PEEK filaments have much better mechanical properties, chemical resistance, heat resistance and biocompatibility compared to other commonly used materials for 3D printing like PLA, ABS etc.
This means that PEEK is good for building industrial-grade pieces or parts across different industries. We shall therefore give compelling reasons why manufacturers of filaments should pick PEEK over any other filament in this article.
Epolymer Plastic Group (Hongkong) has successfully put into production a series of PEEK 3D printing filaments in its Shenzhen factory in China.
The performance is comparable to that of international famous brand products, and the price is only half of that of brand products.
Global buyers, traders, and distributors are welcome to contact us. Get samples and quotes.
High Strength and Rigidity
PEEK filament stands out due to its exceptional strength and rigidity properties that make it suitable for high load-bearing applications.
Excellent Tensile and Flexural Strength
One of the biggest advantages of PEEK filament is its extremely high tensile and flexural strength, meaning parts printed with PEEK can withstand high loads and forces without deforming or breaking.
The elastic modulus of PEEK is also very high, which leads to high rigidity and resistance to bending in PEEK printed components. This high mechanical strength makes PEEK suitable for printing durable end-use parts for engineering and industrial applications, where high strength requirements need to be met.
Ideal for High-Stress Applications
Parts like machine components, fixtures, housings, braces etc. that need to handle high stresses can be 3D printed reliably using PEEK filaments. The exceptional tensile and flexural strength allows PEEK printed parts to perform well even under continuous high mechanical loads.
Excellent Thermal Resistance
PEEK possesses outstanding thermal resistance properties that allow it to retain mechanical strength even upon prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
High Melting Point
PEEK has an exceptionally high melting point of 343°C and can withstand continuous use at temperatures up to 250°C. This makes it ideal for printing parts that will be exposed to high temperatures during operation or sterilization procedures.
Low Thermal Conductivity
PEEK’s thermal conductivity is also very low, which allows printed PEEK parts to act as effective thermal insulators. Components meant for use in high temperature environments like automotive engines, aerospace applications, oil and gas industry can benefit immensely by being 3D printed from PEEK filaments rather than other materials.
Retains Mechanical Strength
The superior thermal resistance allows PEEK printed parts to retain their mechanical strength and integrity even upon prolonged exposure to heat.
Outstanding Chemical Resistance
In addition to thermal resistance, PEEK also offers excellent chemical resistance properties. It can withstand prolonged exposure to most common solvents, acids, bases, oils and fuels without any degradation in mechanical properties.
This chemical inertness suits PEEK perfectly for 3D printing components that will come in contact with corrosive chemicals like in the oil and gas, chemical processing and pharmaceutical industries.
Moisture Absorption
PEEK’s outstanding chemical resistance properties make it highly suitable for applications in the food processing industry where absorption of moisture is a major concern. When conventional plastics are used to print components that come in contact with foodstuffs, they tend to absorb ambient moisture over time leading to dimensional changes and swelling.
But PEEK’s chemically inert nature prevents moisture permeation into printed parts. This ensures that PEEK printed components maintain their precise dimensions and geometry when used in food processing equipment even upon exposure to moisture-laden environments.
The lack of moisture absorption also prevents fungal or bacterial growth on PEEK printed parts, helping meet stringent hygiene requirements in the food sector. With its ability to resist moisture ingress, PEEK clearly outperforms conventional 3D printing materials for food-safe applications requiring dimensional stability.
Environmental Stability
The highly chemically resistant nature of PEEK imparts excellent environmental stability to 3D printed components exposed to different environmental conditions. PEEK’s molecular structure makes it impervious to weathering effects caused by UV radiation, oxygen, humidity etc.
Parts printed from Bonker Plastics PEEK filaments retain their mechanical strength and structural integrity even after many years of service in harsh outdoor environments. PEEK’s inertness also prevents corrosion issues when exposed to acidic or alkaline conditions.
This inherent environmental stability allows PEEK printed components to be used reliably in applications like oil and gas, marine, construction etc. where they are subjected to varying temperature, humidity, sunlight and chemical conditions.
The ability to withstand diverse environmental factors for prolonged periods gives PEEK printed parts an edge over conventional materials like ABS and PLA which can degrade under such conditions.
Biocompatible and Sterilizable
PEEK has gained popularity in the medical sector owing to its biocompatibility and ability to be sterilized repeatedly.
Biocompatibility
An important advantage of PEEK that makes it popular for medical applications is its biocompatibility and sterilizability. PEEK is highly inert and does not elicit any immune response upon implantation in the human body.
It can safely stay in contact with tissues and bodily fluids. Parts like customized implants, surgical instruments and medical devices 3D printed from PEEK have been extensively used in the healthcare industry.
Repeated Sterilization
Additionally, PEEK can withstand repeated sterilization through autoclaving, gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide etc. without degradation. This makes it feasible to sterilize and reuse PEEK printed parts in sterile environments.
Low Outgassing and Particulate Generation
Outgassing refers to the release of gases that are absorbed or trapped in a material. This can majorly impact applications in aerospace and aviation where outgassing can contaminate sensitive equipment.
Low Outgassing
PEEK has extremely low outgassing properties owing to its high thermal stability. This has led to PEEK being used for 3D printing lightweight components used in aerospace applications.
Minimal Contamination
PEEK also produces very low particulates or debris during printing that can contaminate electronics or mechanical systems. This makes PEEK suitable for printing parts used in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
Excellent Sliding Properties
The slippery surface and chemical resistance imparts self-lubricating properties to PEEK, making it suitable for moving components.
PEEK has low friction and water absorption coefficient which gives it self-lubricating properties. This makes PEEK an ideal choice for 3D printing bearings, gears, rollers, sliders and other moving mechanical components.
Self-lubricating
PEEK has low friction and water absorption coefficient which gives it self-lubricating properties. This makes PEEK an ideal choice for 3D printing bearings, gears, rollers, sliders and other moving mechanical components.
Wear Resistance
PEEK printed parts have smooth surface finish and do not require additional lubrication. The excellent sliding properties also allow PEEK printed parts to withstand wear and abrasion. This gives them long operational life even under continuous movement.
Easy to Print
Although PEEK as a material is highly chemically resistant, PEEK filaments have been optimized for easy printing on desktop FDM 3D printers. PEEK filaments like Apium PEEK have good adhesion to common print bed materials like PEI, garolite and blue painter’s tape. They can be printed at temperatures between 360-390°C which is achievable on many common desktop printers.
Excellent Interlayer Adhesion
Parts printed from PEEK have excellent interlayer adhesion and do not delaminate easily. Support removal is also relatively easier than many other engineering grade filaments. Thus PEEK provides the combined benefits of high performance and printability.
Economical Compared to Machined Parts
PEEK is available only at very high prices in machined stock forms due to difficulties in shaping it through conventional subtractive processes. This limits its use in many applications where cost is a concern.
Cost Saving with 3D Printing
3D printing PEEK parts directly from filament is much more economical, with PEEK filaments priced similarly to other engineering thermoplastics. It eliminates the high machining costs associated with PEEK. This makes it feasible to use PEEK for making smaller quantity production runs.
High Material Utilization
The high material utilization rate in 3D printing also leads to significant cost savings compared to CNC machining.
Allows Design Flexibility
One of the major benefits of 3D printing is the ability to create complex geometries easily. PEEK being a high performance thermoplastic, was previously very difficult to shape into complex designs due to its resistance to machining.
Complex Geometries
But with 3D printing, even tiny intricate designs with thin walls and internal channels/voids can be manufactured from PEEK without the geometrical limitations of CNC machining. This allows the creation of lightweight PEEK parts with optimized designs not feasible through machining.
Unlocks Potential
3D printing thus unlocks the full potential of PEEK for producing high-strength customized parts.
Conclusion
From its peerless mechanical attributes, resistivity to heat and chemicals, suitability for human bodies, sterilization possibilities and ease of printing, PEEK undeniably stands as the clear choice for 3D printing high performing functional parts.
PEEK’s price is slightly higher compared to commonly used materials such as PLA or ABS filaments. However, considering its numerous advantages such as performance at extreme temperatures and pressures (for industries such as aerospace, oil& gas, medicine, electronics etc.), PEEK can be said to pay off in the long run.
In addition to these features, ability of making complex custom designs with PEEK also makes it a replacement for machined metallic components in many instances. To get the best and high-quality PEEK filaments for your next 3D printing project, contact Bonker Plastics for a free quote.
