PEKK-A CF pellets

PEKK CF (PolyEtherKetoneKetone) is considered an advanced engineering polymer, which belongs to the PAEK family, blended with carbon fibre. Carbon fibre is a pseudo-amorphous material that gives PEKK CF a lower melting point, slower crystallisation and keeps the crystallisation temperature high. This bonding also enhances structural stability, improving mechanical and printing properties. This is why PEKK CF has earned a place among the two most powerful and easy-to-use materials in FDM/FFF 3D printing. Moreover, this material competes on a general level with the most commonly used thermoplastics in the engineering industry (polysulphones, polyphenylene sulphides and polyketones).

PEKK-A CF pellets by Nanovia have all the qualities that an advanced material requires. This material offers a high operating temperature and a constant maximum working temperature at a pressure of 1.8 MPa of more than 139°C. The main advantage, compared to other materials, is that at these temperatures the mechanical properties hardly change. This is because its high dimensional stability, enhanced by the carbon fibre, maintains its structural shape even at higher temperatures, something unthinkable with most materials developed for FDM/FFF 3D printing. These qualities are used to make short cycle injection moulding tools, carbon fibre laminating tools and other types of moulds that are subjected to high pressure and temperature values (Autoclave). Among these high-strength moulds are those used for the vulcanisation process of plastics, such as rubber. Thanks to PEKK-A CF, moulds can be made more quickly, easily and cheaply than current steel moulds.

The main advantage of this material over others in the same family is its chemical resistance. The chemical resistance values are even higher than those of PEI and PEI CF. PEKK-A CF is resistant to a large list of fluids: halogenated hydrocarbons (benzene), automotive fluids (coolant), alcohol and aqueous solutions (sea water). This quality, together with its low density (1.27 g/cm3) and the fact that it is a flame retardant material, makes PEKK-A CF a very common material for making final parts of engine parts in the aeronautical and automotive field through which liquids, oils and gases pass.

Image 1: Engineering application with PEKK-A CF. Source: Nanovia

When manufacturing engineering parts, it is very important that they do not interfere with or cause shunts of electrical currents. PEKK-A CF has a high dielectric stability (resistance of an electrically insulating material to become conductive) and can be used to manufacture insulating parts for electronic circuits or housings for electrical sockets. In particular, the application of this material in electronic circuits is ideal to ensure operation, as PEKK-A CF is a material with a high heat and frequency dissipation capacity. In terms of mechanical properties, PEKK-A CF stands out for its high strength values in all areas. 

PEKK-A CF pellets do not incorporate recycled or reclaimed material. Thanks to these qualities, PEKK-A CF pellets are perfect for 3D printing, achieving high print quality. There are several methods for using pellets in 3D printing:

• PEKK-A CF 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 for 3D printing directly.

With the combination of PEKK-A CF 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 PEKK-A CF filament such as PEKK-A CF filament from Nanovia. 

When using PEKK-A CF 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.