PEEK (Polyetheretherketone, FDM)

PEEK printed by fused deposition modeling is polyetheretherketone, a semicrystalline high-temperature thermoplastic, extruded from melted filament layer by layer. It needs a very hot nozzle and usually a heated chamber, since uneven cooling causes warping and weak layer bonding. Parts are anisotropic, weaker and less ductile across layer interfaces than along the deposited roads, with small voids between roads, visible layer lines and supports for overhangs. Annealing after printing is common to raise crystallinity, relieve residual stress and stabilize dimensions. Printed parts serve as heat- and chemical-tolerant jigs, fixtures, brackets and housings, and as low-volume replacements for machined components.