A Closer Look at 3D Printing Materials: High Performance Polymers

Over the past few years, high performance thermoplastics have become a widely discussed topic in 3D printing with the market for them growing rapidly. These materials are attractive in the sector for their strength and lightness and there are a number of different ones available for use with additive manufacturing. For example, Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), a family of semi-crystalline plastics that can withstand high temperatures while maintaining tremendous strength. PAEK is primarily used in the form of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), two materials that have high stiffness. A much lower cost alternative though, polyetherimide (PEI), also known as ULTEM, has also become increasingly widespread. But what exactly are high performance polymers? How do you print with them? Who are the manufacturers? Learn everything you need to know about these materials in the following guide on the PAEK and PEI families.

Production and Characteristics of High Performance Polymers

The first thing to note about high performance polymers is that though they of course share characteristics, they are not all exactly the same. That being said, in general it can be noted that high performance thermoplastics, and PEEK in particular, are as strong as steel and 80% lighter than metal, making them tremendously desirable in the production industry. Moreover, in addition to exceptional mechanical and thermal resistance of up to 250 °C (482 °F) for continuous operation, PAEK materials are also resistant to dissolving in oils and other substances unlike most other plastics. When exposed to fire, there are almost no gas or noxious fumes released.

And though they are more and more widespread in additive manufacturing, it is undeniable that their growth was slower than other polymers. Truth is, such materials have been around for over three decades, though they have been utilized through injection molding or machining. At first, Stratasys was the only company able to produce printers that could handle the high temperatures required to melt PAEK and PEI polymers. Nevertheless, as the market started opening more companies had the opportunity of experimenting with them, resulting in a mass commercialization of their inventions. As time goes by and the entry barriers are weakened, we see more and more companies entering the field and starting to produce printers capable of handling PAEK thermoplastics.