German speciality chemicals and plastics producer Evonik (Essen; www.evonik.com) is launching what it called the world’s first carbon fibre-reinforced PEEK filament for use in 3D-printed medical implants.

The company said its smart biomaterials can be processed with common extrusion-based 3D printing technologies such as fused filament fabrication (FFF). It noted that the 1.75 mm-diameter grades, PEEK Vestakeep iC4612 3DF and iC4620 3DF, with 12% and 20% carbon fibre respectively, vary according to the required strength and flex properties of 3D-printed implants such as bone plates and other reconstructive prostheses.

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Both are delivered on 500g and 1,000g spools that can be used in standard FFF/FDM 3D printers for PEEK materials.

As product benefits, Evonik touted the ability to define the alignment of the fibre during the 3D printing process, along with high bio-compatibility for metal allergy-patients, and the lack of x-ray artifacts. Alignment can be controlled during the 3D printing process, it added.

Over the past five years, Evonik has been developing new PEEK-based filaments for 3D printing applications. The company plans to display the two products, alongside its existing portfolio, at upcoming trade shows for medical technology and 3D printing.