Taking on the challenge to develop a broader platform for new and existing additive manufacturing (AM) technologies the University of Exeter (UK) and Victrex, have announced a strategic partnership to introduce PAEK polymers and composites while improving the performance of the AM processes.
This collaboration is driven by Victrex R&D and the University´s Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM). Additive Manufacturing is a key productivity tool of the future, which grew at approximately 21 per cent last year based on a report by Wohler’s Associates.2 The materials and technology to support AM continue to emerge, including the first PAEK polymers designed, developed and optimised specifically for AM.
‘We are excited to start this partnership and continue our R&D work on the development of high-performance materials and AM processes for todays and future needs and applications. The new PAEK polymer-based materials will give designers and developers the opportunity to use the best performing polymers within AM processes and help make this dream a reality, transforming AM into a high-performance production tool’, comments Professor Oana Ghita, the lead of CALM at the University of Exeter.
Victrex and CALM started to work together in a consortium3 focussing on the development of VICTREX PAEK polymers for various 3D printing processes. After having achieved major improvements, Victrex recently announced newly developed advanced PAEK products designed for AM: A high strength material for laser sintering (LS), a filament with better Z-strength than existing PAEK materials and better printability for filament fusion (FF).
Improved technologies for additive manufacturing of VICTREX PAEK can open up a range of possibilities for design engineers. Potential benefits of using PAEK polymer for AM could include:
- Greater design freedom for engineers looking to deploy AM in high-performance applications in a variety of industries.
- Higher-performance AM solutions, enabling the production of highly complex, highly customised, and highly specialised PAEK components.
- Digital design and fabrication of PAEK parts for rapid prototyping and speed to market.
- Improved economics through elimination of machining waste, improved refresh rates in powder bed fusion (PBF), and improved material utilisation in filament fusion (FF).
- Patient customised implants and improved outcomes through new features and better fit.
‘Victrex is keen to help overcome barriers to adoption and realise the full potential of PAEK/PEEK-based parts produced using AM technology,’ explains Ian Smith, marketing director at Victrex. ‘In order to open up the AM supply chain, we need to continue to work together to develop an eco-system that can address unmet industry needs and accelerate the adoption of PAEK/PEEK for AM technologies. This cooperation with the University of Exeter is one part of Victrex´s efforts to construct that eco-system.’
The company expects two industries to benefit in particular during the initial adoption phase. In the aerospace sector, the use of PAEK/PEEK in AM has the potential to enable new designs and the consolidation of parts within a single design. At the same time, it will allow the production of parts that would be difficult to machine. In medical, AM in conjunction with PAEK will allow the manufacture of medical devices to make patient specific implants. The prospect of broad-based industry-wide adoption awaits as the eco-system develops and improved solutions become available.
References
1) Polyaryletherketone or PAEK is the name of a family of high-performance thermoplastics such as Polyetheretherketones or PEEK.
2) State of the Industry Annual Worldwide Progress Report on Additive Manufacturing, Wohlers Associates, Inc., 2018.
3) Partners in the Additive Manufacturing consortium headed by Victrex and funded by Innovate UK: Airbus Group Innovations, 3T-RPD Ltd, E3D-Online, EOS, University of Exeter Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM), HiETA Technologies, South West Metal Finishing, Victrex
