Used on some of the fastest cars and chosen for the toughest jobs, Ultem™ 1010 has earned its place in the most demanding environments on earth. From motorsports builds pushing speed records to aerospace applications enduring intense heat cycles, Ultem 1010 proves it can handle the extremes. It is trusted where strength, heat resistance, and reliability are the difference between success and failure. So how does Ultem 1010 pull this off? Let’s find out.
Ultem 1010 is a polytherimide (PEI) made by SABIC, known for combining excellent mechanical strength with outstanding thermal and chemical resistance. At 3DXTECH, we use SABIC’s base material to make both our ThermaX™ Ultem 1010 and Triton3D Ultem 1010 filaments, materials purpose-built for high-performance additive manufacturing.
What makes this material remarkable is its wide range of applications across industries. Take our Triton3D Ultem 1010 for example, which is the same resin, slightly modified to perform in Stratasys® systems. The Garage Shop, a race car engineering team based in North Carolina, uses Triton3D Ultem 1010 to print lightweight, heat-resistant components for their 235 mph Corvette and their upcoming streamliner project aimed at hitting 500 mph. It gives them the strength of metal without the weight and allows them to push boundaries in design and performance right from their shop floor.
We have also demonstrated Ultem 1010’s potential in aerospace and tooling with a carbon fiber layup mold designed to withstand the intense heat and pressure of autoclave processing. This is exactly the kind of application where Ultem 1010 shines, where thermal stability and dimensional accuracy are required, and where other materials fall short.
From a performance standpoint, Ultem 1010 stands out for its ability to handle extreme heat and stress. It offers a tensile strength of 56 MPa, tensile modulus of 2,500 MPa, flexural strength of 110 MPa, and flexural modulus of 2,510 MPa. With a heat deflection temperature of 280°C, it is built for sustained use around 200°C, even under demanding stresses and chemical exposure. It is also inherently flame resistant, resists a wide range of chemicals, and holds up under continuous mechanical stress.
Building on these advanced properties, we also developed specialized solutions that combine electrostatic discharge protection with the strength and stability of Ultem 1010. 3DXSTAT® ESD-Ultem 1010 merges proven PEI performance with advanced carbon additives to deliver controlled surface resistivity between 10^4 and 10^9 ohms. This material maintains inherent flame resistance, high heat deflection, and chemical durability while adding reliable ESD protection for sensitive electronic, aerospace, and industrial applications. For Stratasys® users, we also produce ESD 1010 in a Stratasys-compatible variation to ensure seamless integration without sacrificing performance.
Of course, Ultem 1010 requires the right environment to succeed. It needs a chamber temperature around 225°C for proper layer bonding and to prevent warping. It is also highly moisture-sensitive and must be dried thoroughly, usually at 150°C, before printing. At 3DXTECH, we dry our reels overnight at 150°C before packaging and supply them on heat-resistant spools so you can re-dry as needed and achieve consistent results every time.
If you work in aerospace, automotive, or manufacturing and need a material that can match the demands of your toughest applications, Ultem 1010 delivers. Learn more and order here.
