PEEK CF20 Pellets

In the world of FDM/FFF 3D printing, there is a family of materials that stands out clearly above all others, the PAEK family (polyaryletherketone or polyaryletherketone ether ketone). The materials belonging to this class are semi-crystalline plastics, which withstand high temperatures (around 200 ºC) while maintaining high mechanical strength values.

The PAEK family includes PEEK, PEKK and PEI. All of them have high mechanical strength, chemical resistance and high temperature flammability.

PEEK (polyetheretheretherketone) is one of the world's highest performing polymers. PEEK has exceptional mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance properties, making it an ideal material for some of the most demanding applications such as seals, gears, bushings, bearings, pump and compressor components. Industries such as automotive, aerospace, defence, defence, semiconductor and oil/gas depend on PEEK for applications where failure is not an option.

PEEK CF20 pellets are made of carbon fibre reinforced PEEK, which gives the material exceptional stiffness, strength and dimensional stability.

PEEK CF20 pellets are small cylinders of the highest quality material. They do not incorporate recycled or reclaimed material. Because of these qualities, PEEK CF20 pellets are perfect for 3D printing, achieving high print quality. There are several methods for using pellets in 3D printing:

• PEEK CF20 pellets can be used in the manufacture of filament for FDM 3D printers using Filastruder or any other filament extruder.
• It is possible to use a pellet extruder to 3D print directly.

With the combination of PEEK CF20 Pellets and a good filament extruder such as Filastruder, it is possible to obtain 3D printing filament with qualities similar to those of a commercial PEEK CF20 filament such as CarbonX™ PEEK CF20.

When using PEEK CF20 Pellets to make filament with a filament extruder such as Filastruder or using a pellet extruder for direct 3D printing, it should be noted that the extrusion temperature must be regulated in relation to the extrusion speed used. For optimal results, it is recommended to read the product's usage tips.

Some of the most important properties of PEEK CF20 are the following:

• Superior mechanical properties, especially at elevated temperatures.
• Excellent chemical resistance.
• Low coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE).
• Almost zero moisture absorption.
• Low emission of toxic fumes and gases.
• PEEK has excellent resistance to hydrolysis in boiling water and superheated steam (sterilisation/autoclave) at temperatures above 250°C.

This material is an advanced material that requires the use of an industrial 3D printer that reaches printing temperatures between 380 and 410°C and a chamber temperature of up to 140°C. Due to its difficulty in printing, this material is recommended for expert users.