PEEK

PEEK material printing requires extremely high temperatures and dedicated high temperature equipment. Recommended nozzle temperature is 400-450°C, bed temperature 110-220°C, chamber temperature 40-60/90-200°C. Drying at 100-120°C for 6-8 hours before printing is required. Cooling fan speed 0-100% adjustable. Dedicated high temperature 3D printers such as CreatBot PEEK-250/PEEK-300 series must be used, as regular printers cannot meet the temperature requirements for PEEK printing.

PEEK material has strong hygroscopicity, and moisture will vaporize during high temperature printing, causing bubbles inside the printed part and silver streaks on the surface, seriously affecting mechanical properties and appearance quality. Drying at 100-120°C for 6-8 hours can effectively remove moisture from the material, ensuring sufficient melting and interlayer bonding during printing, and obtaining high quality printed parts. Dried filament should be used as soon as possible or stored sealed.

PEEK, with its excellent comprehensive properties, has a wide range of applications in many high-end fields. Typical applications include: ① Aerospace—engine peripheral parts, structural brackets, heat shields, etc., high temperature resistant and lightweight; ② Medical devices—artificial bones, surgical instruments, implants, etc., biocompatible and can be sterilized at high temperature; ③ Automotive manufacturing—engine parts, bearings, seals, etc., excellent high temperature and oil resistance; ④ Electrical and electronic—chip carriers, connectors, etc., excellent electrical insulation properties; ⑤ Petrochemical—valves, pump parts, etc., excellent corrosion resistance.

PEEK material has strong hygroscopicity, and proper storage is crucial to ensure print quality. Storage methods: ① Unopened filament should be stored in a cool, dry place (temperature 15-25°C, humidity <30%), avoiding direct sunlight; ② Opened filament is recommended to be stored in a sealed bag with desiccant (molecular sieve desiccant recommended, 10-15g/roll), or in a filament dryer maintained at 10-20% relative humidity; ③ For short-term non-use (more than 24 hours), it is recommended to remove the filament from the printer and store it sealed.

First layer adhesion is key to successful PEEK printing, the following measures are recommended: ① Heat the print bed to 110-220°C and maintain stable temperature; ② Use 3D printing spray, PVP glue or special adhesive to treat the bed surface; ③ Reduce first layer print speed to 15-20mm/s, with nozzle height slightly lower than conventional settings (0.05-0.1mm); ④ Set first layer line width to 120-150% of nozzle diameter to increase contact area; ⑤ Use brim width of 8-12mm to increase contact area with the bed. PEI or dedicated PEEK print beds are recommended.

PEEK material has the following advantages compared to other high-performance engineering plastics: ① Excellent high temperature resistance—long-term use temperature up to 260°C, 2-3 times that of ordinary engineering plastics; ② Excellent mechanical properties—combining high strength, high rigidity and high toughness; ③ Excellent chemical stability—resistant to most chemical corrosion; ④ Biocompatibility—can be used for medical devices and implants; ⑤ Creep resistance—small deformation under long-term loads; ⑥ Good flame retardancy—UL94 V-0 rating without added flame retardants; ⑦ Excellent insulation—maintains good electrical performance even in high temperature and high humidity environments. PEEK is one of the specialty engineering plastics with the best comprehensive performance.