Effect of heat treatment on the vertical bond strength of 3D printed CF-PEEK composite implants

Abstract: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites are increasingly used in biomedical applications due to their mechanical strength, biocompatibility and imaging behaviour. In order to use PEEK as a load-bearing implant, its mechanical properties must be optimised. This study investigates the effect of annealing on 3D printed PEEK and carbon fibre reinforced PEEK (CF-PEEK) samples. The results show that annealing improves crystal uniformity and overall sample quality, highlighting its potential to improve PEEK composites for use in orthopaedic and spinal implants.