A new 3D-printable polyetheretherketone (PEEK) biomaterial is suited for medical applications involving up to 30 days body contact. VESTAKEEP Care M40 3DF from specialty chemicals company Evonik can be processed by means of extrusion-based 3D-printing technologies such as fused filament fabrication (FFF) or fused deposition modeling (FDM).
The new PEEK filament is the latest addition to Evonik’s Care Grade line based on the high-performance VESTAKEEP Care M40 polymer. The biocompatible material features temperature and chemical resistance, sterilizability, and easy handling, said Evonik in making the announcement today. Applications include patient-specific hearing aids, prosthetic and orthotic devices, surgical drilling aids for dentistry, and surgical instruments.
Measuring 1.75 mm in diameter, VESTAKEEP Care M40 3DF is supplied on 500-gram spools that can be used directly in standard FFF/FDM 3D printers for PEEK materials. The filament is manufactured under cleanroom conditions and subjected to strict quality management for medical materials.
The release of this new filament follows on the heels of the commercial success of Evonik’s VESTAKEEP i4 3DF filament for 3D printing long-term permanent implants, said Marc Knebel, who heads the company’s medical devices and systems market segment. "In order to open up further medical applications for even better quality of life, a broad material landscape is needed. We have our fingers on the pulse with our portfolio of 3D biomaterials and are consistently developing it further. This year we plan to launch an innovative PEEK-based filament with osteo-conductive properties, allowing bone cells to adhere to implants more quickly,” said Knebel.