Additive Manufacturing of PEEK and Fiber-Reinforced PEEK for NASA Applications and Custom Medical Devices

There is a significant gap between the properties of materials that are produced using the current 3D printing processes and the properties that are needed to support critical space systems. The polyetherimide/polycarbonate (PEI/PC) composite recently demonstrated on the ISS is a significant step forward in development, however, FDM with PEI/PC represents the current practical limits of AM in space due to the temperature requirements to produce other materials In this Phase I SBIR, AMI, an ISO 13485-Certified (FDA GMP Compliant) Medical Device Developer and Manufacturer, will partner with PSU professors Dr. Michael Hickner of the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) and Dr. Benjamin Lear, Associate Professor of Chemistry to develop, test, and commercialize a carbon fiber reinforced (CFR) PEEK composite feedstock with improved deposition and strength through focused photothermal polymerization. Polymics Inc, a local company with expertise in compounding PEEK, will produce feedstock ready for 3D print. The project proposed combines three complimentary approaches to achieve additive manufacturing of precision parts with CFR PEEK: Formulation addition of carbon microfibers to PEEK filament feedstock to increase overall strength. Modification of carbon microfibers by impregnating/coating gold nanoparticles to enable photothermally-enhanced bonding to the previous layer. Incorporation of a focused laser beam adjacent to the print head to initiate localized photothermal heating and localized additional heating directly at the extrusion exit point. More »