Essentium Launches PEKK High-Performance Material

Essentium’s PEKK, made with an Arkema 6002 Kepstan resin, is an ultra-polymer offering high heat and chemical resistance as well as mechanical strength to meet the performance requirements of aerospace and industrial applications.

The company says PEKK shares most of the performance attributes of PEEK, but has a lower crystallization rate and can therefore be treated as an amorphous polymer. This means it is less affected by the cooling process once the part is 3D printed, thereby minimizing warping. PEKK is said to maintain the flame smoke toxicity ratings for Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) compliance, while offering improved resistance to chemical attack compared to PEI materials. PEKK has an extrusion temperature between 340 and 400°C.

The material extends Essentium’s open additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem by enabling manufacturers to scale and meet the requirements of their specific applications with tested and certified materials of their choice. Essentium’s PEKK is said to ensure manufacturers can quickly produce parts that meet their industry’s reliability, repeatability and performance standards.

The material is well-suited for industries that want AM to give them speed to parts without sacrificing quality, enabling the rapid production of complex parts for harsh and extreme environments on-demand, the company says.