These applications will be intrinsically linked to replacement of existing metal structures or components in very high performance products or industries. With availability opening up for advanced thermoplastic materials in both material extrusion and polymer powder bed fusion, the catalyst for growth in demand for these materials will revolve around development of specific applications for advanced materials. Meanwhile, German company INDMATEC announced in 2015 what is perhaps the first PEEK filament available for 3D printers, to use in a compatible system which is expected to be priced at around $40,000 when it will become fully available on the market. Roboze developed a special cooling system to stabilize the material and avoid warping issues at these elevated extrusion temperatures, without breaching Stratasys’ sealed chamber patent. The Roboze One+400 printer, announced by Italian printer manufacturer Roboze in November 2015, is claimed to be able to achieve 400 degrees Celsius in the extruder, allowing for printing of both of PEEK and PEI filaments. As ULTEM currently exorbitant prices decrease, PEEK/PEKK adoption rates in extrusion technology are likely to increase due to the increased presence of material extrusion systems, outside of those provided by Stratasys, that are beginning to become commercially available. SmarTech Publishing’s Polymer report goes on to detail PEEK and PEKK will partially and gradually replace ULTEM, which currently accounts for the vast majority of revenues generated from advanced thermoplastic print materials. Taking a PEEK at Future Markets for Extrusion While titanium alloy has been the leader in printed orthopedic implants for nearly a decade, titanium implants may lose some competitive advantage should costs of titanium powder remain high - recent studies have shown promising results in the ability of PEKK implants to achieve appropriate load bearing strength for orthopedic implants, while remaining lighter overall.Ĭaptions: Exhibit details potential growth areas in PAEK powder printing utilizing current polymer powder bed fusion technology. PEKK 3D printed medical implants are now load bearing capable SmarTech Publishing expects growth in the area of medical implants made of PEKK and PEEK, as the load bearing capabilities of printed PEKK parts through laser sintering has now been achieved with Oxford Performance Materials’ SpineFab implant. Currently, the aerospace and medical industries are leading the way in 3D printing of advanced thermoplastic powders utilizing SLS, although growth in energy, defense, and sectors is expected. PAEK family polymers are used in high-cost industries. Adoption of these materials is driven by demand of very high performance components, combining high strength, lightweight materials and advanced geometries possible through AM. Leading SLS system manufacturer EOS offers its own certified PEEK material (developed with Rauch), making it the only current provider of a readily approved advanced thermoplastic powder for its own technology. Leading manufacturer EOS is already offering PEEK for SLS. PAEK family polymers are 3D printable in material extrusion but currently used primarily in powder bed fusion processes. SmarTech Publishing has identified several elements that suggest increased PAEK adoption especially in SLS processes PAEK Applications Start with Powder Bed Fusion Developers of these printers and materials include Roboze (Italy) and INDMATEC (Germany). Very recently, startup vendors have begun designing quality extrusion systems at a lower price point that are focusing on processing advanced thermoplastics in filament form, mostly PEEK. Based on growing use in powder bed fusion processes and a number of newly developed open materials-based extrusion systems, SmarTech Publishing identifies and details the significant business opportunities for PAEK polymers over the next decade, as are expected to account for nearly 19 percent of total polymer 3D print material revenues by 2026, while representing just over 8 percent of total projected print material volume from professional and industrial polymer 3D printers.Ĭaptions: despite accounting for just over 8 percent of demand in 2026, PAEK family advanced thermopolymers are expected to become the most profitable segment, from over $1.1 billion in generated revenues This category also includes the polyetherimide family (ULTEM) used today primarily by Stratasys’ closed materials systems. In the latest Opportunities in Polymer and Plastic 3D Printing – 2017: An Opportunity Analysis and Ten-Year Forecast report, SmarTech Publishing focuses on the material category of “advanced thermoplastics” which are primarily those in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family, including PEEK and PEKK.
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