Essentium PEEK

Essentium is a manufacturer of FDM 3D printing products aimed at the professional and industrial. It stands out from other material manufacturers for the development of filaments with very specific characteristics, ideal for demanding applications in sectors such as the automotive or aerospace sectors, among others.

The manufacture of 3D printed parts for demanding applications requires the use of materials with advanced properties, whether in the mechanical, thermal or chemical resistance field. For this type of high performance applications, Essentium has developed a series of industrial grade filaments that belong to the PAEK family.

Materials classified as PAEK are semi-crystalline plastics, while other polymers used in 3D FDM printing are amorphous. This is defined by the microstructure of the material and is directly related to some of its properties. In the case of semi-crystalline plastics, they usually have a higher chemical resistance than amorphous ones due to their ordered internal structure.

Video 1: Essentium Materials Guide: Amorphous vs. Semi-Crystalline. Source: Essentium.

Essentium PEEK filament is an advanced FDM 3D printing material. This filament is the highest performing material within the Essentium product portfolio.

PEEK (PolyEtherEtherKetone) is the most crystalline plastic within the PAEK family. This indicates that it has the highest mechanical resistance values ​​of all. PEEK filament also stands out for its high chemical resistance and high flammability temperature. In fact, this material is inherently flame retardant. In addition, this material is practically impermeable to moisture.

Video 2: Essentium Materials Guide: PEEK. Source: Essentium.

PEEK filament has been developed by Essentium in collaboration with Lehmann & Voss and Company with the goal of achieving an optimized polyetheretherketone formula to achieve the best results in 3D printing. Its patented formula crystallizes for longer and with less residual stress than other standard PEEK filaments, achieving great uniformity and high-quality results in 3D printing. For this reason, Essentium's PEEK filament is the best option for applications with tight tolerances, where maximum bonding between layers is desired, or for printing parts with geometries where aspect ratio is important.

Thanks to its advanced properties, this filament is greatly useful in sectors such as biomedical (non-implantable), military or aerospace. In the latter, possible applications stand out such as the manufacturing of replacement parts for aluminum components of engines, bearings or valves, as well as to create light conduits that insulate and protect fiber optic cables or electrical systems that circulate inside aircraft.

Image 1: Applications in the aerospace sector of Essentium PEEK. Source: Essentium.

When working with PEEK and other filaments of the PAEK family, it must be taken into account that they are materials that present high difficulties during the 3D printing process and that require the use of industrial equipment with certain characteristics.

The minimum requirements that an FDM/FFF 3D printer must have to use these materials are: Extruder temperature 370-400 ºC, base temperature greater than 150 ºC, heated chamber with a temperature above 80 ºC. These values ​​are necessary due to the sensitivity of structural deformation in contact with air zones at different temperatures of these materials. For more information about the properties of this material or the recommendations for use, you can access the sections Advice for use or Specifications of the product.

Without a doubt, the development of materials for 3D FDM printing such as Essentium PEEK is a great advance and allows professional users to be able to manufacture high-performance parts for demanding applications from their own facilities, with the savings of time and costs that this entails.