Grades / Implant grade PEEK
Implant grade PEEK, the same polymer with a paper trail
Implant grade PEEK is not a different material on the machine. It is unfilled PEEK supplied under a specification, with lot traceability and documented testing behind it. What you are buying, and what costs money, is a document chain that cannot be reconstructed after the parts are cut.
Implant grade PEEK against the other grades
Typical published values. The full matrix, with what each row changes, is on the property data page.
| Property | Unit | Implant grade PEEK | Unfilled | GF30 | CF30 | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | g/cm³ | 1.30 - 1.32 | 1.30 - 1.32 | 1.49 - 1.51 | 1.40 - 1.44 | 1.44 - 1.46 |
| Tensile strength | MPa | 90 - 100 | 90 - 100 | 150 - 170 | 130 - 140 | 90 - 110 |
| Tensile modulus | GPa | 3.5 - 4.0 | 3.5 - 4.0 | 9 - 11 | 12 - 14 | 7 - 9 |
| Coefficient of friction, dry against steel | µ | 0.30 - 0.40 | 0.30 - 0.40 | 0.35 - 0.45 | 0.20 - 0.30 | 0.10 - 0.20 |
| Thermal expansion, below Tg | µm/m·K | 45 - 50 | 45 - 50 | 20 - 24 | 14 - 18 | 18 - 24 |
| Thermal conductivity | W/m·K | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.40 - 0.45 | 0.85 - 0.95 | 0.6 - 0.9 |
| Volume resistivity | Ω·cm | > 10¹⁵ | > 10¹⁵ | > 10¹⁵ | 10³ - 10⁶ | 10³ - 10⁶ |
| Tolerance a shop quotes | mm | ±0.05 | ±0.05 | ±0.05 | ±0.025 | ±0.05 |
Choose it when
- Long term body contactStock sold to ASTM F2026 for surgical implant applications, with the testing documented by the resin maker.
- Radiolucent hardwarePEEK does not block X rays, so it does not hide the anatomy or the feature being imaged.
- Stiffness closer to boneAround 3.5 to 4.0 GPa against 110 for titanium, which is why it appears in spinal and orthopaedic hardware.
- Documented supply chainsAny part where an auditor will ask which resin lot it came from.
Look elsewhere when
- Parts that do not need itInstruments, trials, guides and fixtures rarely require implant grade stock. It costs more and adds handling requirements.
- Filled grade substitutionThe specification covers unfilled material. A filled blend is a different conversation entirely.
- Assuming approvalASTM F2026 is a material specification. It does not approve a finished device, and neither does USP Class VI or ISO 10993 data.
What changes in the shop
What a shop prices differently for this grade, and what that means for your drawing.
Fit calculator and annealing calculator both use these numbers.
- Handling is the real requirementControlled receipt, segregated storage, clean tooling, documented cleaning and packaging, records tying every step to a lot.
- No metal tools in deburringTraces of metal in the surface are a rejection.
- Same cutting behaviourIt machines like unfilled PEEK. Nothing about the polymer changes.
- ISO 13485 shopsDevice components under a manufacturer quality system generally need a supplier operating under one too.
Typical parts
Where this grade turns up in practice.
- Spinal and orthopaedic components machined from implant grade stock
- Trials and sizers
- Parts for long term contact where documentation is audited
- Radiolucent fixtures used in imaging
Questions about Implant grade PEEK
More in the full question list.
Does implant grade PEEK machine differently?
No. It is unfilled PEEK and behaves the same at the spindle. The difference is entirely in receipt, storage, cleaning, packaging and records.
Is ASTM F2026 an approval?
No, it is a material specification for PEEK polymers used in surgical implant applications. Approval of a finished device is a separate process that belongs to the device maker.
Do we need implant grade stock for surgical instruments?
Usually not. Instruments, trays, guides and trials are ordinarily made from standard unfilled PEEK with clean handling and a certificate of conformance.