3DXSTAT ESD PEKK-A

In the world of FDM/FFF 3D printing, there has been one family of materials that stands out from the rest due to its properties: the PAEK family. The PAEK family includes PEEK, PEKK and PEI. All of them have high mechanical strength, chemical resistance and high temperature flammability.

3DXStat™ ESD PEKK-A filament is one of the materials offered by 3DXtech, a renowned North American manufacturer specialising in technical filaments for professional applications. 3DXStat™ ESD PEKK-A is a PEKK-based filament developed to protect or support objects sensitive to electrostatic current discharges.

3DXStat™ ESD PEKK-A filament is a material made from Arkema Kepstan® PEKK (PolyEtherKetoneKetone) and state-of-the-art conductive additives, this ESD PEKK-A is one of the highest performing polymers in the world making it ideal for the most demanding applications.

This filament was created for situations where highly controlled static dissipation, thermal properties and advanced mechanical properties are required.

The most outstanding properties of 3DXStat™ ESD PEKK-A filament are:

• Substantially easier to print than PEEK, made of the 50/40 type PEKK copolymer known as PEKK-A
• High thermal properties
• Inherently flame resistant and self-extinguishing
• Long-term hydrolytic stability making it ideal for steam environments and suitable for autoclave sterilisation.
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Exceptional mechanical properties, even at high temperatures
• Excellent resistance to a wide range of chemicals such as automotive fluids, fully halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols and aqueous solutions.
• Stable dielectric constant and dissipation factor over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies
• Consistent surface resistivity

Thanks to manufacturers like 3DxTech, 3D printing with high-performance polymers no longer requires large investments. 3DxTech's 3DXStat™ ESD PEKK-A filament is compatible with most professional open source FDM 3D printers available on the market today.

Some of the most common applications for this material include the following:

• Hard disk drive components, jigs, housings and connectors.
• Transport, measurement and sensing applications.

The degree of surface conductivity varies depending on the extruder temperature. That is, the surface resistance of the part printed with 3DXStat™ ESD PEKK-A varies depending on the printing temperature used (10^7 to 10^9 ohms surface resistivity).

To achieve higher levels of conductivity, it is recommended to print at higher print temperatures within the manufacturer's recommended parameters. Similarly, printing at lower printing temperatures will result in lower levels of conductivity. Test printing is recommended to achieve the appropriate level of conductivity for each application.

Despite being easier to print than other high-performance polymers, this filament is an advanced material that requires the use of an industrial 3D printer that reaches printing temperatures between 355 and 385 °C and a chamber temperature of 70 - 140 °C. Due to its difficulty in printing, this filament is recommended for expert users.