PEEK vs PEKK-A for 3D Printing: Performance, Printability, and Materia

PEEK vs PEKK-A for 3D Printing: Performance, Printability, and Material Selection

PEEK sets the benchmark for high-performance polymers, but its extreme processing requirements are not always necessary. This guide compares PEEK and PEKK-A, highlighting key differences in strength, thermal performance, and printability to help engineers select the right material for their application.

PEEK vs PEKK-A: Choosing the Right High-Performance Polymer for Additive Manufacturing

PEEK is widely considered one of the highest-performance polymers available for additive manufacturing. With a tensile strength of approximately 100 megapascals and a flexural modulus near 2,700 megapascals, it easily outperforms many other high-temperature materials, including Ultem 1010. Its strength, chemical resistance, and thermal stability make it a top choice for demanding aerospace, automotive, and medical applications.

PEEK represents the upper ceiling of polymer performance. However, that level of performance comes with challenges.

PEEK requires extremely high processing temperatures, tight chamber control, and careful management of crystallinity. Rapid crystallization can reduce layer bonding and increase warping unless the printing process is precisely tuned. Many users rely on post-print annealing to restore crystallinity, which adds time, complexity, and risk to production workflows.

This leads to an important reality: while many applications can use PEEK, far fewer actually require its full performance envelope.

That is where PEKK-A becomes a compelling alternative.

PEKK belongs to the same PAEK family as PEEK but crystallizes more slowly, which significantly improves layer adhesion and dimensional stability. At 3DXTECH, we focus on PEKK-A, the amorphous variation, because it offers better print control, lower processing temperatures, and greater overall reliability.

PEKK-A still delivers ultra-high polymer performance, with tensile strength around 105 megapascals, excellent chemical resistance, and a heat deflection temperature near 150 degrees Celsius, while remaining compatible with a much wider range of industrial 3D printers.

When comparing PEEK and PEKK-A, the difference is clear. PEEK offers the highest performance ceiling. PEKK-A offers a more practical balance of performance and manufacturability.

At 3DXTECH, we offer both materials because each has its place. But if your application does not require the extreme limits of PEEK, PEKK-A may be the smarter engineering choice.