Surface characteristics of 3D printed PEEK polymer using atomic force microscopy.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• High-performance polymers like PEEK are increasingly used in 3D printing for biomedical applications, including prosthetics and implants.
• Material performance, especially adhesion and biocompatibility, is critically dependent on surface characteristics.
• Optimizing 3D printing parameters is essential for achieving desired surface qualities in PEEK parts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing parameters on the surface roughness and adhesion of PEEK specimens.
• To identify optimal printing settings for minimizing surface roughness and enhancing interlayer bonding strength in 3D printed PEEK.
• To evaluate the relationship between printing parameters (layer height, printing speed) and the resulting surface topography and adhesion forces.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PEEK specimens (S1-S4) using FDM with varied layer heights (0.10 mm, 0.15 mm) and printing speeds (20 mm/s, 25 mm/s).
• Surface roughness measurement of fabricated specimens using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
• Analysis of force curve separation graphs to calculate adhesion forces and assess interlayer bonding strength.

Main Results:

• Printing parameters significantly influence the surface roughness of 3D printed PEEK.
• Specimen S3, printed at a layer height of 0.15 mm and speed of 20 mm/s, exhibited the lowest surface roughness (0.017 μm).
• Adhesion force values were calculated, providing insights into the interlayer bonding strength influenced by printing parameters.

Conclusions:

• Specific FDM printing parameters, namely a layer height of 0.15 mm and a printing speed of 20 mm/s, are effective in reducing the surface roughness of PEEK.
• The identified optimal parameters contribute to enhanced surface quality, which is crucial for improving adhesion and potentially biocompatibility in biomedical PEEK applications.
• Further research into adhesion force analysis can guide the development of stronger and more reliable 3D printed PEEK components for demanding applications.