PEKK: density, print temperature and when to choose it
PEKK (polyether ketone ketone) is a relative of PEEK from the same family of ketone polymers, with a somewhat lower melting temperature and, because of that, a slightly wider print window and better interlayer adhesion. Its properties are close to PEEK's — high heat resistance, strength, and chemical inertness — but it likewise requires an industrial printer with a hot chamber.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ≈1.28 g/cm³ |
| Nozzle temperature | 360–390°C |
| Bed temperature | 120–150°C |
| Part cooling | off |
| Shrinkage | high without chamber temperature control |
| Enclosure required | yes, with air heating |
When to use it
- Aerospace and medical parts that need PEEK-class heat resistance but where interlayer strength matters more.
- Replacing metal fasteners in conditions of elevated temperature and vibration.
- Parts where low shrinkage matters at large print volumes relative to PEEK.
- Components in contact with aggressive chemicals or solvents.
When to pick something else
- You need maximum temperature resistance rather than ease of printing — PEEK has a higher service temperature ceiling.
- No printer with a hot chamber and a 380°C+ nozzle — like PEEK, PEKK is out of reach on consumer equipment; consider PEI (Ultem) or a simpler PPSU.
- The task doesn't need extreme chemical resistance — for most engineering applications, PC or PA6-GF is enough at a fraction of the price.
Pros and cons
Pros: heat resistance and chemical inertness on par with PEEK, better interlayer adhesion and a slightly wider print window, good fatigue strength.
Cons: still requires an industrial printer with a hot chamber and a nozzle above 360°C; very high filament price; slow printing and high deformation risk without precise temperature control; less common than PEEK — harder to find verified filament suppliers.
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Like PEEK, PEKK requires industrial equipment with a long chamber warm-up — the time and energy to prep the printer are often comparable to the print time of a small part itself. Filament price remains among the highest on the market, and the slightly wider print window lowers the defect rate relative to PEEK, but doesn't eliminate it. For cost calculation, budget not just the material price but also depreciation of a specialized chambered printer — on standard desktop equipment this line item simply isn't achievable.