PEEK
Polyether Ether Ketone
7 products from 6 makers.
Beyond H2C capability. Kept for reference, never a candidate: it needs more heat than the H2C gives.
- Tensile modulus (XY)
- 3.63GPa
- 2 products · 3.54–3.72
- Tensile strength (XY)
- 100MPa
- 5 products · middle half 89.3–100
- Not published:
- tensile strength (Z),
- Notched Charpy impact
- 6kJ/m²
- one product
- HDT at 0.45 MPa
- 144°C
- 2 products · 140–147
- Not published:
- price.
PEEK is polyether ether ketone. Makers sell it for demanding aerospace, automotive, medical and electronic parts. Its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 140–147 °C. It is beyond H2C capability: its products ask for a nozzle at 390–440 °C, past the H2C's limit, and a maker calls it very difficult to print.
Partly documented Notched Charpy impact rests on 1 product, tensile modulus (XY) and HDT at 0.45 MPa on 2 products each and tensile strength (Z) and price are not published. Each figure is the median of the products that publish it comparably, and beside it the middle half of them; a value on a test bar no document describes as printed, or with no stated test load, is set apart, except a heat deflection of a plastic that cannot crystallise, which its glass transition sets, unless its document points to a moulded or resin bar.
On the H2C
Printing in full- Nozzle
- 390–440 °C
- most products that give one
- Bed
- 120 °C
- most products that give one
- Heated chamber
- 90 °C
- most products that give one; beyond the H2C's 65 °C
- Drying
- 110–140 °C, 4–8 h
- 6 of 7 products call for it
- Nozzle type
- standard
- 1 says a standard nozzle is enough; the rest are silent
Beyond the H2C's limits (nozzle 350 °C, bed 120 °C, heated chamber 65 °C): nozzle for 7 products, bed for 3 products and chamber for 5 products.
Among the materials
Against PC, PEEK is 69 % stiffer and 67 % stronger flat, and its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 21 °C higher. Against PA6/66, PEEK is 64 % stronger flat and 55 % stiffer, and its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 25 °C higher. Among the materials, PEEK has a high tensile strength (XY), elongation at break (XY) and density: each is in the top quarter of the materials that publish it. The rest of its key properties sit in the middle half.
Against its alternatives, PEEK has the highest tensile modulus and tensile strength and the lowest notched Charpy impact
How does it compare with what an engineer would buy instead?
- PEEK: its products' median and middle half
- an alternative
- lowest to highest
- each material's median (top row)
- beyond the scale
Each row is a material, each column a property: the bar is the middle half of a material's products, the tick their median, the hairline their lowest to highest; the ticks above the rows are every material's median.
The figure as a table
| Material | Modulus (XY) (GPa) | Strength (XY) (MPa) | Strength (Z) (MPa) | Notched Charpy (kJ/m²) | HDT 0.45 MPa (°C) | Price (CAD/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEEK (this material) | 3.63 · 2 | 100 (89.3–100) · 5 | — | 6 · 1 | 144 · 2 | — |
| PC | 2.15 (2.02–2.41) · 12 | 60 (54.2–65.3) · 15 | 46 (35.9–52.3) · 6 | 9.75 (6.65–14.3) · 4 | 123 (113–139) · 15 | 51 (45–67) · 5 |
| PA6/66 | 2.34 · 2 | 61 · 3 | 45.8 · 1 | 6.9 · 1 | 119 · 3 | 40 · 3 |
| PVDF | 2.45 · 1 | 51 · 1 | — | — | 158 · 1 | 356 · 1 |
| PC-ABS | 1.84 (1.58–1.94) · 4 | 41.8 (39.9–43.5) · 6 | 26.4 · 2 | 40 · 3 | 112 (111–120) · 7 | 64 · 3 |
| PC FR | 2.15 · 2 | 63.5 · 2 | 33.5 · 2 | 10.1 · 2 | 112 · 2 | 70 · 1 |
PEEK publishes no tensile strength (Z) or price.
Where PEEK sits among the 128 rigid materials on file
Where is it in the landscape: stiffness against strength, heat resistance against price?
- PEEK: median, middle half as a cross
- a PEEK product
- an alternative
- another material
- beyond the scale
Tensile strength (XY) against tensile modulus (XY)
MPa, log scale
Tensile modulus (XY), GPa, log scale
Grey points are every other rigid material's medians; the alternatives are named.
The figure as a table
| Material | Tensile modulus (XY) | Tensile strength (XY) |
|---|---|---|
| PEEK (this material) | 3.63 GPa · 2 | 100 MPa · 5 |
| PC | 2.15 GPa · 12 | 60 MPa · 15 |
| PA6/66 | 2.34 GPa · 2 | 61 MPa · 3 |
| PVDF | 2.45 GPa · 1 | 51 MPa · 1 |
| PC-ABS | 1.84 GPa · 4 | 41.8 MPa · 6 |
| PC FR | 2.15 GPa · 2 | 63.5 MPa · 2 |
Mechanical properties
Printed flat (XY), PEEK typically reaches a tensile strength of 100 MPa at a modulus of 3.63 GPa, and breaks at 28 % elongation. In bending, its flexural strength is typically 130 MPa at a flexural modulus of 2.93 GPa.
PEEK's products spread most in tensile strength: the middle half runs 89.3–100 MPa
How strong, stiff and tough are its products, and which stand out?
- a product
- set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
- middle half and median
One mark per product on each property's scale (zoomed where its products sit close together, as its label says); the band is the middle half of the products the median counts, and the line the median.
Hover or select a product to find it in every figure; its name opens its card on the Products page.
The figure as a table
| Property | In the median | Median | Middle half | Lowest in the median | Highest in the median | As published | Added filler or additive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 5 | 100 | 89.3–100 | SUNLU PEEK, 77 | 3D4Makers PEEK, 105 | 1 | 0 |
Every PEEK product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.
| Product | Tensile modulus (XY) | Elongation at break (XY) | Notched Charpy impact | Notched Izod impact | Shore D hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DXTECH ThermaX PEEK | 3.72 GPa | 28 % | not published | not published | not published |
| iSANMATE PEEK | not published | 40 %not described as printed | 6 kJ/m² | 6 kJ/m² | 85 Shore D |
| SUNLU PEEK | not published | 21 % | not published | not published | not published |
| LEHVOSS LUVOCOM 3F | 3.8 GPanot described as printed | 5 %not described as printed | not published | not published | not published |
| 3D4Makers PEEK | 4.1 GPanot described as printed | 30 %not described as printed | not published | not published | 85 Shore D |
| Ensinger TECAFIL PEEK | 3.54 GPa | 120 % | not published | not published | not published |
Not published for PEEK: strength across the layers.
Thermal properties
Its products put HDT at 140–147 °C under 0.45 MPa, with its glass transition typically at 143 °C. As published, melting is typically 343 °C.
Where PEEK's products soften under load
Where do its products soften under load?
- a product
- middle half and median
The figure as a table
| Property | In the median | Median | Middle half | Lowest in the median | Highest in the median | As published | Added filler or additive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 4 | 143 | 143 | 3DXTECH ThermaX PEEK, 143 | 3D4Makers PEEK, 143 | 0 | 0 |
Every PEEK product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.
| Product | HDT at 0.45 MPa | HDT at 1.8 MPa |
|---|---|---|
| 3DXTECH ThermaX PEEK | 140 °C | not published |
| iSANMATE PEEK | not published | 152 °Cnot described as printed |
| SUNLU PEEK | 147 °C | not published |
| LEHVOSS LUVOCOM 3F | 145 °Cnot described as printed | not published |
Printing on the H2C
PEEK's nozzle and heated chamber run past what the H2C gives
What does printing it on the H2C take, and how hot can a part get?
- share of the products that accept each temperature
- what most products accept
- the H2C's limit, and beyond it
- a product
- PEEK: its products' median and middle half
- as published, under each sheet's own test
Printing it on the H2C
In service
°C
One temperature axis for the settings a print needs and the temperatures a part meets. A setting's shade is how many of the products whose sheets give a window accept each degree; the H2C's limit closes its row.
The figure as a table
| Setting or property | Most products, or the median | Products | H2C limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 390–440 °C | 7 | 350 °C |
| Bed | 120 °C | 7 | 120 °C |
| Heated chamber | 90 °C | 5 | 65 °C |
| Drying | 110–140 °C, 4–8 h | 6 | — |
| Glass transition (Tg) | 143 °C (143 °C) | 4 | — |
| HDT at 0.45 MPa | 144 °C | 2 | — |
| Melting temperature | 343 °C | 4 | — |
Windows read from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide are not shaded: the guide speaks for every product that reads it.
| Setting | Most PEEK products |
|---|---|
| Nozzle | 390–440 °C most products that give one |
| Bed | 120 °C most products that give one |
| Heated chamber | 90 °C most products that give one; beyond the H2C's 65 °C |
| Drying | 110–140 °C, 4–8 h 6 of 7 products call for it |
| Nozzle type | standard 1 says a standard nozzle is enough; the rest are silent |
Where a product's own sheet is silent, its setting comes from a sheet it shares or from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide; each product's card says which.
After printing
You could post 3D printing anneal your PEEK part in an oven.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2
What makers say about printing it
Printing advice
Do not let the PEEK material remain in your printer's nozzle for extended periods of time when not extruding.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2This will lead to speccing and nozzle blockages.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2print at a low speed.
SUNLU PEEK, data sheet, p. 1Your printer should have adequate thermal control in the build chamber throughout the printing process.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2Lack of process control can also lead to speccing on the part with black specs forming during printing on your part.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2Lack of process control and inadequate temperatures can also lead to brown discoloration in the part, which is an indication that the parts has not been properly crystalized.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2
Moisture sensitivity
To achieve optimum mechanical properties, it is recommended to pre-dry the material with the above mentioned parameters.
Ensinger TECAFIL PEEK EV natural - 1.75 mm, data sheet, p. 1
Nozzle wear
For long-term printing, the nozzle needs to be replaced
SUNLU PEEK, data sheet, p. 1
More from makers: warping and shrinkage, adhesion between layers and supports and removal
Warping and shrinkage
Excellent dimensional stability
SUNLU PEEK, data sheet, p. 1
Adhesion between layers
The material has an excellent adhesion between layers, which results in great improvement of the impact resistance, strength, durability, and the printing process.
LEHVOSS LUVOCOM 3F PEEK 9581, data sheet, p. 1
Supports and removal
Supported Material PVA
SUNLU PEEK, data sheet, p. 2
Products
7 products from 6 makers; the most from 3D4Makers (2).
- Most documented: iSANMATE PEEK, with values for more properties than any other.
- Highest tensile strength (XY): 3D4Makers PEEK, 105 MPa.
These are published values, not recommendations: the selector judges each product against your requirements.
Uses, limitations and chemicals
What it is sold for
PEEK is used to fabricate items used in demanding applications in aerospace, automotive, oil and gas and medical industries.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 1It is often used in demanding applications such as aerospace, automotive, chemical, and medical industries.
iSANMATE PEEK, data sheet, p. 1Aerospace, automotive components, medical devices, electronic components, etc.
SUNLU PEEK, data sheet, p. 1
What makers warn about
PEEK is a very difficult material to 3D print.
3D4Makers PEEK, data sheet, p. 2
Chemicals and environment
No maker of these products publishes resistance to a named chemical, to water or to sunlight.
Density and price
Its three products give a density of 1,200–1,300 kg/m³. No PEEK product has a price in the sample.
| Product | Density |
|---|---|
| 3DXTECH ThermaX PEEK | 1,300 kg/m³ |
| iSANMATE PEEK | 1,300 kg/m³ |
| SUNLU PEEK | 1,200 kg/m³ |
Other properties, as published
9 more properties are published, each under its own sheet's test conditions, so they are listed, not ranked.
The 9 properties, lowest to highest
| Property | Products | Lowest–highest |
|---|---|---|
| Water absorption | 4 | 0.03–0.45 % |
| Compression strength | 2 | 125–130 MPa |
| Melt volume-flow rate | 2 | 12–22 cm³/10 min |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 1 | 45 µm/m/K |
| Continuous service temperature | 1 | 260 °C |
| Elongation at yield | 1 | 5.5–22 % |
| Flexural elongation at break | 1 | 7 % |
| Flexural stress at conventional deflection | 1 | 130 MPa |
| Hardness | 1 | 83 Shore (scale not specified by source) |
Sources
12 documents from 6 publishers (7 data sheets, 4 makers' product pages and guides and 1 printer document), read 10 Sep–19 Oct 2026. Each value on PEEK's Products page names its document and page, and links to the original.
Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide (the H2C's printer guide): print settings for 7 products.
Every document (12), by publisher
| Publisher | Documents | Values | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D4Makers | 5 | 25 | 3 |
| 3DXTECH | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Filament2Print | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| iSANMATE | 1 | 14 | 1 |
| SUNLU | 1 | 11 | 1 |
- 3D4Makers, Best practices in 3D printing PEEK (3D4Makers blog)
- 3D4Makers, LUVOCOM 3F PEEK 9581 Filament
- 3D4Makers, PEEK Filament
- 3D4Makers, R PEEK Filament
- 3D4Makers, Technical Data Sheet 3D Printing Filament R-PEEK Filament
- 3DXTECH, ThermaX PEEK
- 3DXTECH, THERMAX™ PEEK
- 3DXTECH, THERMAX™ PEEK
- Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide | Bambu Lab Wiki
- Filament2Print, TECAFIL PEEK EV natural - 1.75 mm - Filament
- iSANMATE, PEEK
- SUNLU, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET ISO PEEK