Prusament PEI 1010
PEI 1010 (polyetherimide, branded as Ultem) is one of the most resistant 3D printing polymers, suitable for specialized and demanding industrial applications.
Characteristics
Pros
- Exceptional mechanical properties
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Great high-temperature resistance
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Gamma radiation resistance
- Inherently flame-retardant material
Cons
- Very high working temperatures
- Extremely prone to absorbing moisture
- Strong adhesion to the PEI surface (separation layer may be needed)
- Large prints prone to warping
Application
Highly stressed moving parts
Due to its excellent mechanical properties and temperature resistance, PEI can be extensively used in the automotive industry, for example.
Heat resistant parts
Prusament PEI 1010 comes with temperature resistance up to 200 °C. Also, PEI (in general) is a flame-resistant material, with a UL94 flame resistance rating of VTM-0. However, unlike the Prusament PETG-V0, the Prusament PEI 1010 doesn’t have the UL certification yet, so we cannot officially guarantee these properties.
Parts resistant to chemicals
PEI 1010 can withstand a broad range of chemicals and can go through a sterilization process in an autoclave, electron beam, ethylene oxide, and gamma radiation. The combination of these properties makes it suitable for scientific and medical applications.
Aerospace applications
Printed parts from PEI have a tensile strength similar to aluminum components. This means you can even directly replace certain metal parts in selected aviation and space applications.
Details
- Printing difficulty
- Hard
- Moisture absorbtion
- Very high
- Toughness
- High
- Susceptibility to warping
- High
- Resistance to chemicals
- Exceptional
- Resistance to heat
- Very high
- Elasticity
- Very low
- Abrasivity
- None
- Hard to break
- Yes
PEI 1010 (polyetherimide, branded as Ultem) is one of the most resistant 3D printing polymers, suitable for specialized and demanding industrial applications. The material has a great high-temperature and chemical resistance, and excellent mechanical properties. It is inherently flame-retardant and resistant to gamma radiation. As one of the most resistant materials, it can be used for industrial applications directly as functional parts – it can even be used as a replacement for aluminum alloys. The unique combination of material properties makes it usable for various medicinal or aerospace applications.
Due to very high printing temperatures, this material can be printed only with the Prusa Pro HT90 or a similar printer with a heated chamber (minimum 90 °C). Also, this material is extremely prone to moisture absorption and it is necessary to dry it before every print and keep it in a dry box during the printing.
Download Safety Data Sheet (PDF)
Printer requirements
| Bed | Temperature: 150 ± 10 °C Heated Bed Necessary Enclosure Necessary |
|---|---|
| Print Surface | HT90 Textured Powder-coated Steel Sheet or HT90 PA Nylon Powder-coated Steel Sheet |
| Extruder | Temperature: 410 ± 10 °C High-temperature hot-end required |
| Chamber Temperature | 90-190 °C |
Available colors
Beginners tips & tricks
Keep the filament dry
It is crucial to keep the filament as dry as possible. Dry the filament every time before printing, as it absorbs moisture extremely quickly. We recommend drying the filament for at least 6-8 hours at 150 °C. After that, place the filament inside the dry box and keep it inside for the whole time during the printing.
Use a high-temperature hot end
Use a high-temperature hot end when printing with Prusa Pro HT90. High-flow hot end will not work for this filament.
Print surface preparation
This filament can be printed on an HT90 Textured Powder-coated Steel Sheet or an HT90 PA Nylon Powder-coated Steel Sheet. Before printing on a Textured Powder-coated Steel Sheet, spread a thin layer of MagiGoo HT on the surface to prevent any damage to the print sheet. The PA Nylon Powder-coated Steel Sheet requires nothing more than cleaning as described in the handbook.
Before printing with Prusament PEI 1010, don’t forget to read our online help article, which contains all the necessary information.
Read more about the Prusament PEI 1010 and its properties in our blog article.
Featured PEI 1010 prints
