High-Performance Thermoplastic Resin

ASTM International’s plastics committee (D20) has developed the first material standard (D8501) for PEKK (Poly Ether Ketone Ketone), a thermoplastic resin designed for extreme conditions.

According to ASTM International member Alexandra Peters, PEKK performs in continuous use temperature up to 500°F (260°C), has excellent mechanical strength, and high resistance to flame, smoke, and a broad range of chemicals. Among other features, these make PEKK an asset in various industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, semiconductor, and more.

This standard will further the usage of PEKK in applications like molding, extrusion, powder coating, additive manufacturing, and composites.

“From a sustainability standpoint, PEKK is commonly used to extend the lifetime of products,” notes Peters, field sales engineer at Arkema, Inc. “It acts as a lightweight option for metal replacement and provides durability for improved lifetime of components. Now that a material standard has been published, there is also room to expand into both Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Selective Laster Sintering (SLS) 3D printing applications as well as thermoplastic carbon fiber and glass fiber composite materials.”