Effect of Hydrothermal Aging on the Flexural Properties of 3D Printed PEKK and Low-Melt PAEK
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
BIOMED Master's Thesis Defense
Title:
Effect of Hydrothermal Aging on the Flexural Properties of 3D Printed Poly-ether-ketone-ketone (PEKK) and Low-Melt Poly-aryl-ether-ketone (LM-PAEK)
Speaker:
Jasmine Johnson, Master's Candidate
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University
Advisor:
Steven Kurtz, PhD
Research Professor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University
Details:
In recent years, polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) have increasingly been used for orthopedic and dental application in lieu of, or in tandem with, traditionally used metals due to their favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Currently, one member of the PAEK family, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), is extensively studied and implemented for implant use, while other members of the PAEK family such as polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) and Low-melt polyaryletherketone (LM-PAEK) are not studied as intensely. This uneven distribution leads to a lack of data, limiting the understanding of how these two materials behave over time under physiological environments.
This thesis aimed to contribute to the body of literature regarding LM-PAEK and PEKK use for additively manufactured orthopedic implants. In the study, the effects of hydrothermal aging on moisture absorption, flexural modulus, and flexural strength of 3D printed LM-PAEK and PEKK specimens were explored. Specimens (n =4) of each material were submerged in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution at 70 °C ± 2°C for either 0 (control), 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Moisture absorption was documented via weekly specimen weighing in grams. Post hydrothermal aging, all specimens underwent four-point bending.
Mass results indicated a steady increase in mass over time for LM-PAEK specimens while the PEKK specimens exhibited a less uniform trend over time. LM-PAEK also consistently exhibited higher flexural modulus and flexural strength over time compared to PEKK across all aging conditions. Statistical analysis via two-way ANOVA and a Tukey post-hoc analysis revealed a significant difference in flexural modulus between the control LM-PAEK and PEKK specimens, LM-PAEK and PEKK specimens aged for 4 weeks, and LM-PAEK and PEKK specimens aged for 6 weeks. There were also significant differences in the flexural strength of LM-PAEK and PEKK specimens within each aging condition. Material type significantly affected both flexural modulus and flexural strength, while aging time only significantly affected flexural modulus. No significant interaction between material type and aging time was observed.
The findings demonstrate that LM-PAEK and PEKK maintain favorable flexural properties following hydrothermal aging, making them attractive materials for potential use in additively manufactured orthopedic implants Additionally, this work adds to the limited body of literature available investigating the long-term behavior of LM-PAEK and PEKK under physiologically relevant aging conditions.
Contact Information
Natalia Broz
njb33@drexel.edu