PEEK, PEKK and ULTEM filaments: high-performance polymers for demanding environments
PEEK, PEKK and ULTEM/PEI are high-performance polymers. They are selected when common materials are no longer enough: temperature, stiffness, chemical resistance, stability and industrial requirements. Printing them requires a specialized machine with heated chamber, high-temperature extrusion and a controlled material profile.
Why these polymers?
Very high thermal capability, chemical resistance and mechanical stability depending on material and qualification.
What to watch
Demanding printing: drying, heated chamber, adhesion, crystallization and certified settings depending on application.
PEEK, PEKK or ULTEM?
The choice depends on temperature, chemistry, crystallinity needs, certification and machine process.
High-temp jigsTooling exposed to heat, process conditions or repeated cycles.
Aerospace and transportPrototypes and parts according to material and certification requirements.
Chemical industryComponents for aggressive environments depending on compatibility.
Research and testingSamples, supports and advanced validation parts.
Medical and laboratoryOnly for applications with validated material and process for the intended use.
Targeted metal replacementLightweight parts where temperature and chemistry justify the polymer.
Material advice : these materials should not be selected like standard filament. Check printer, nozzle, chamber, drying, material traceability and regulatory constraints before ordering.