Victrex launches LMPAEK polymer grade for 3D printing

Victrex AM 200 is based on Victrex’s (Lancashire, U.K.) LMPAEK polymer for improved performance of additive manufacturing (AM) processes including melt extrusion by filament fusion (FF), direct granule extrusion and laser sintering. LMPAEK is said to offer a lower melting temperature, without lowering the decomposition temperature, resulting in a wider processing window. It is also slower crystallizing, enabling improved interlayer adhesion while maintaining a crystallization level after processing that imparts the chemical and temperature resistance for which PAEK materials like PEEK are widely known.

According to the company, parts printed by melt extrusion using Victrex AM 200 have shown increased z-direction strength and significantly improved warp resistance during printing compared with typical PEEK polymers. Victrex is currently expanding the LMPAEK ecosystem with development projects in laser sintering and short fiber-reinforced compound for FF. For example, collaborative projects with the Technical University of Munich (Munich, Germany) using direct granule extrusion reportedly demonstrated significant improvements in interlaminar strength for large-scale additive manufacturing of slow-crystallizing carbon fiber-reinforced composites based on LMPAEK versus commercial versions of PEEK compounds.

Victrex AM 200 is available as 1.75-mm filament in 1-kg and 500-g spools. Victrex has recently announced new resellers for this filament, including Intamsys (Shanghai, China) and 3DGence (Przyszowice, Poland).