POLYETHERETHERKETONE (PEEK) IN RAPID TOOLING: ADVANCEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS FOR FUSED FILAMENT FABRICATION OF RUBBER MOLDS

Karim ABBAS, Nicolae BALC, Sebastian BREMEN, Lukas HEDWIG

Abstract


Establishing high-performance polymers in additive manufacturing opens up new industrial applications. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was initially used in aerospace but is now widely applied in automotive, electronics, and medical industries. This study focuses on developing applications using PEEK and Fused Filament Fabrication for cost-efficient vulcanization injection mold production. A proof of concept confirms PEEK’s suitability for AM mold making, withstanding vulcanization conditions. Printing PEEK above its glass transition temperature of 145 °C is preferable due to its narrow process window. A new process strategy at room temperature is discussed, with micrographs showing improved inter-layer bonding at 410°C nozzle temperature and 0.1 mm layer thickness. Minimizing the layer thickness from 0.15 mm to 0.1 mm improves tensile strength by 16%. Keywords: Additive Manufacturing; Fused Filament Fabrication; Tensile Strength; Polyetheretherketone (PEEK); Rapid Tooling; Process Parameters

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References


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