PEEK2023-02-28T11:15:51+02:00

PEEK Polymer material
(Polyaryletherketone)

for 3D printing in every industry

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PEEK (Polyaryletherketone or PAEK) materials

As an engineer, you may be interested in learning about the growing popularity of PEEK material for 3D printing. PEEK, short for polyether ether ketone, is a colorless, organic thermoplastic polymer that belongs to the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family.

What sets PEEK apart is its exceptional properties, making it one of the top-notch materials in the 3D industry. PEEK filament has a unique set of qualities that make it a preferred choice for various industries such as medical, oil and gas, aerospace, and automotive.

For instance, PEEK is the ideal material for low-volume production and specialist designs that would be challenging to create using traditional techniques or metal. PEEK is known for its excellent thermal and mechanical properties, high strength-to-weight ratio, and resistance to wear, chemicals, and temperature.

In summary, PEEK is a versatile material that offers high performance and has broad applications across different industries. Its unique properties make it an exciting material choice for engineers seeking to create prototypes or production parts with exceptional performance characteristics.

Specifications for PEEK

MATERIAL PROPERTIES
 CONDITIONSTEST METHODUNITSTYPICAL VALUE
Mechanical Data
Tensile StrengthYield, 23°CISO 527MPa98
Tensile ElongationBreak, 23°CISO 527% 45
Tensile Modulus23°CISO 527GPa4.0
Flexural StrengthAt 3.5% strain, 23°CISO 178MPa125
 At yield, 23°C   165
 125°C   85
 175°C   19
 275°C   12.5
Flexural Modulus23°CISO 178GPa3.8
Compressive Strength23°CISO 604MPa125
 120°C   70
Charpy Impact StrengthNotched, 23°CISO 179/1eAkJ m -27.0
 Unnotched, 23°CISO 179/1U  n/b
Izod Impact StrengthNotched, 23°CISO 180/AkJ m -28.0
 Unnotched, 23°CISO 180/U  n/b
Thermal Data
Melting Point ISO 11357°C 343
Glass Transition (Tg)OnsetISO 11357°C 143
 Midpoint   150
Coefficient of Thermal ExpansionAlong flow below TgISO 11359ppm K -145
 Average below Tg   55
 Along flow above Tg   120
 Average above Tg   140
Heat Deflection TemperatureAs moulded, 1.8 MPaISO 75-f°C 152
Thermal ConductivityAlong flow, 23°CISO 22007-4W m-1K-10.32
 Average, 23°C   0.29
Relative Thermal IndexElectricalUL 746B°C 260
 Mechanical w/o impact   240
 Mechanical w/impact   180
Flow
Melt Viscosity400°CISO 11443Pa.s350
Miscellaneous
DensityCrystallineISO 1183g cm -31.30
Shore D hardness23°CISO 868  84.5
Water Absorption by immersionSaturation, 23°CISO 62-1% 0.45
 Saturation, 100°C   0.55

PEEK features

Are you an engineer interested in 3D printing with high-performance polymers? If so, you’ll be delighted to know that PEEK plastic is one of the most exciting materials available on the market today!

PEEK’s distinct chemical structure gives it exceptional mechanical properties and dimensional stability, making it a top choice for engineers working in the most demanding environments. Its incredible strength and durability make it ideal for creating parts and prototypes that need to withstand harsh conditions.

Compared to other plastic polymers, PEEK components stand out in various applications across multiple industries. Whether you’re in the medical, aerospace, automotive, or oil and gas sector, PEEK’s outstanding properties make it an excellent material choice for various applications, including low-volume production and specialist designs.

Excellent wear properties

Excellent wear properties

Electrically insulating

Electrically insulating

Easy post-processing

Easy post-processing

Extreme temperatures (-40°C to +250°C)

Extreme temperatures
(-40°C to +250°C)

Mechanical strengths (TS 98 MPa)

Mechanical strengths
(TS 98 MPa)

Chemical resistance (also sterilization by Gamma)

Chemical resistance
(also sterilization by Gamma)

Bio inert (also radiolucent for X-ray, CT or MRI)

Bio inert
(also radiolucent for X-ray, CT or MRI)

High purity

High purity

High performance polymers are high heat resistance
Properties of high performance polymers

PEEK does not offer merely two or three properties that mark it as the polymer of choice when high performance is required; it has a whole variety of them. 

High performance polymers are high heat resistance
High heat resistance

According to test results, VICTREX PEEK polymer has a continuous use temperature of 260°C (500°F), indicating its potential suitability for deployment in a wide variety of thermally aggressive settings, including those encountered in process industries, the oil and gas sector, and the engines and transmissions of countless vehicles. In dynamic applications, such as thrust washers and seal rings, PEEK has demonstrated an ability to withstand friction and resist wear.

High performance polymers are chemically unreactive
Chemically unreactive

PEEK has demonstrated the ability to withstand damage that can arise in chemically aggressive operating environments, including downhole in wells within the oil and gas industry, as well as in gears utilized in machinery and automotive applications. Furthermore, it has proven its resistance to substances such as jet fuel, hydraulic fluids, de-icers, and insecticides commonly employed in the aerospace sector. These properties hold true over wide ranges of pressure, temperature, and duration.

High performance polymers are mechanically strong
Mechanically strong

PEEK exhibits excellent strength and stiffness across a broad temperature spectrum. PEEK-based carbon fiber composites display specific strength levels several times higher than those of metals and alloys. The terms “creep” and “fatigue” refer, respectively, to a material’s permanent deformation over an extended period of time under constant applied stress, and its brittle failure under repeated cyclic loading. Thanks to its semi-crystalline structure, PEEK boasts high resistance to both creep and fatigue, enabling it to surpass many other polymers and even some metals in terms of durability over a lengthy and beneficial lifespan.

High performance polymers are difficult to ignite or burn
Difficult to ignite or burn

PEEK has demonstrated excellent performance in terms of flammability, with a resistance to combustion of nearly 600°C. Even when it does burn at extremely high temperatures, it will not support combustion and produces minimal smoke. This quality is among the reasons why PEEK finds wide application in commercial aircraft.

High performance polymers are re-processable and recycable
Re-processable and recyclable

Due to the stability of the PEEK molecule, the polymer can be re-melted and reprocessed repeatedly with minimal alteration to its properties. This attribute not only aids in minimizing its environmental impact but also allows waste materials generated during manufacturing to be reused in an economically feasible manner.

Discover our 3D printed PEEK parts

Interested in what kind of parts Bond3D is able to print with PEEK polymers? Discover our library with examples. 

Static mixer printed with high-performance polymers

An unique combination for high performance polymers

Victrex 450G PEEK is a high performance polymer certified for use in the medical, aerospace and food industry. Due to its excellent properties the material enables the development of light weight and strong products applicable in demanding environments.

Bond3D prints with high performance polymers

Bond3D Technology

  • Preservation of material properties
  • Voidless printing
  • Isotropic strength
  • Ultra High vacuum applications
  • Pressure tight
  • Engineering services

+ Additive Manufacturing values (AM)

  • Flexible design

  • Design for 3D modelling

  • Complex internal structures

  • Cost saving

  • Speed to market

  • Capital efficiency

Our high performance polymers are created by Victrex

PEEK 450G

High performance polymers have a high wear property

Wear Property

High performance polymers are easy to process

Easy Processing

High performance polymers have high mechanical strengths

Mechanical Strengths
(TS 98 MPa)

High performance polymers are Bio inert

Bio inert
(also radiolucent for X-ray, CT or MRI)

High performance polymers are insulating

Electrical Property
(Insulating or conductive)

High performance polymers can resist extreme temperatures

Extreme Temperature
(-40°C to +250°C)

High performance polymers are chemical resistant

Chemical Resistance
(also sterilization by Gamma)

High performance polymers are high purity

High Purity

Discover our critical parts made from PEEK for every industry

Electronics industry

Electronics

Pressure tight parts for semiconductor production

Energy market

Energy

Make energy generation and storage more efficient.

High-tech industry

High-tech industry

Integrated, precise and easy maintain end solutions

Medical industry

Medical

3D printed parts certified for the medical market.

Aerospace industry

Aerospace

Weight reduction parts for the aerospace industry

Automotive industry

Automotive

Save on weight and support fuel reduction

Frequently asked questions
about PEEK polymers

VICTREX PEEK 150G vs 450G: What’s the Difference?2023-02-27T14:04:59+02:00

VICTREX PEEK 450G is defined as a standard melt viscosity (MV) PEEK grade, with a medium molecular weight.  Other VICTREX PEEK grades are available with higher and lower melt viscosities and higher or lower molecular weights respectively.  VICTREX PEEK 150G is a higher flow, lower molecular weight, lower MV grade of PEEK compared to 450G.  [A lower melt viscosity, measured in Pa.s, equates to a higher Melt Flow Rate (MFR)].  As a result, 150G may be more suitable for applications where lower viscosity in the melt during processing is desirable, for example, when injection moulding thin-walled parts or long, thin sections with intricate geometries; impregnating carbon or glass fibres for composite prepregs; or adding high levels of solid fibrous or particulate fillers and reinforcements to make compounds.  However, the lower molecular weight also changes the bulk properties of the polymer:  lower molecular weight PAEKs have higher stiffness and strength combined with reduced toughness, ductility and impact resistance.  This is a consequence of the shorter polymer chains, which are less entangled, crystallise more readily and to a greater overall extent.  Some of the properties of 450G and 150G are compared in the table below to illustrate these differences.

PEEK vs 450G PEEK: Are they the Same?2023-02-27T14:02:24+02:00

PEEK is a general term, an abbreviation, for the polayaryletherketone (PAEK) polymer [whose full name is poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl-1,4-phenylene) ] and whose molecular backbone structure is defined by the repeat unit below.Molecular structure of a PEEK 450g polymer

VICTREX PEEK 450G is a specific grade of PEEK polymer, a unique grade which is only made by Victrex and which has a specific range of molecular weight.  The molecular weight defines the bulk properties of the PEEK 450G polymer, including its stiffness, strength, toughness, crystallinity and melt processing behaviour.

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