PEEK 3D Printing - Everything you need to know

February 26, 2019 1 Comment

PEEK is an extremely strong, durable, mechanically and chemically resistant material. PEEK is often compared with aluminum alloys, but PEEK is lighter than aluminum, making it the perfect candidate for lightweight and strong applications.

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What is PEEK?
Properties and applications
Applications per industry
Post processing
PEEK 3D printers

What is PEEK?

Polyether Ether Ketone or PEEK is a semi crystalline polymer(organic) developed in the 1980s. PEEK is formed by the step-growth polymerization by the dialkylation of bisphenolate salts. 3D printing PEEK is a good alternative to traditional metal manufacturing techniques when you deal with low-volume production and complex designs that demand exceptional mechanical en chemical resistance.

PEEK properties and applications

PEEK has exceptionally high mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistant properties that are maintained at high temperatures. An object made of PEEK becomes ‘rubbery’ from a temperature of around 140°C. This is the Glass Transition Temperature. From 200°C it starts losing its chemically resistance to Chlorine/Bromide, Fluorine, HF and HBr, concentrated Sulphur, Nitric acids, Ketones and Nitrobenzene. PEEK is elastic and has a high tensile modulus, making PEEK ideal for high stress applications. Think of piston parts, bearing casings and so on. The above described properties make it the ideal choice for aerospace, oil and gas and automotive industries.

In addition, PEEK is resistant to water and easy to sterilize which is why it’s also widely used in the medical industry. It’s also one of the most expensive materials on the market. The high cost of the raw material, relatively low demand and various patents affect the price of this versatile material.

PEEK 3D printing applications per industry

Aerospace and aviation

Engine parts
Contact material for tribological interaction
Exterior parts of aircrafts
Intricate tubing material for wire protection

Medical and healthcare

Handles of dental syringes
Sterile boxes
Load bearing implants

Electrical / electronic

Used as electrical components for long-term operating conditions
During the handling of silicon wafers PEEK components minimize contamination and maximize safety
Used in soldering process

Automotive industry

Piston units
Seals
Washers
Bearing casings

PEEK post-processing

Annealing a printed part in an oven de-stresses the part and improves its mechanical properties. Use a hot air oven but don’t preheat. Both the part as well as the oven should be at room temperature when you start annealing. Raise the temperature of the oven to 150°C for one hour. Then raise the temperature to 200°C for another hour. Reduce the temperature to 150°C for thirty minutes. Then let the part slowly cool until it has reached room temperature again.