ULTEM 1010 (Polyetherimide PEI)

polymer

amorphous high-performance thermoplastic (polyetherimide family)

SABIC ULTEM™ 1010PolyetherimidePEIUltem 1010 ResinStratasys ULTEM 1010

ULTEM 1010 (Polyetherimide PEI) 3D printed component

Density

1.27 g/cm³

YS (FDM as-printed (XY) — Stratasys Fortus)

65–83 MPa

UTS (FDM as-printed (XY) — Stratasys Fortus)

72–90 MPa

Elongation (FDM as-printed (XY) — Stratasys Fortus)

2.5–4.5 %

Elastic modulus

3–4 GPa

Thermal conductivity

0.2 W/m·K

Glass transition (Tg)

212–222 °C

Max service temp

160–180 °C

Mechanical & thermal properties — 2 conditions

Property	FDM as-printed (XY) — Stratasys Fortus	FDM as-printed (Z) — Stratasys Fortus
Elastic modulus	3–4 GPa	—
Yield strength (0.2%)	65–83 MPa	47–63 MPa
Ultimate tensile strength	72–90 MPa	55–72 MPa
Elongation at break	2.5–4.5 %	1.2–2.8 %
Density	1.24–1.30 g/cm³	—
Thermal conductivity	0.2 W/m·K	—

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Engineering considerations

Annealing note: ULTEM 1010 is amorphous and does NOT benefit from post-print annealing. Unlike PEEK or PEKK (semi-crystalline), there is no crystallinity to develop. Annealing above Tg (217°C) will cause deformation. Do not anneal.
Build orientation: orient the primary load axis in the XY plane. Z-direction UTS (63 MPa) is 22% below XY (81 MPa). For housings and enclosures, orient so that lid/base-opening flanges are in XY — these are typically the highest-stress interfaces.
Moisture management: despite low equilibrium moisture absorption (<0.25% by weight), ULTEM 1010 filament must be dried before printing (80°C/6h). Moisture causes surface bubbling, layer delamination, and reduced properties. Store in sealed canisters with desiccant.
Comparison with ULTEM 9085: ULTEM 9085 (used in aerospace cabin interiors) has FAR 25.853 FST certification and higher elongation (~3–4% XY) but lower HDT (~153°C). ULTEM 1010 has superior thermal performance and food/bio compliance. Select based on the primary regulatory requirement: FST → 9085; food/medical/thermal → 1010.
Autoclave tooling design: ULTEM 1010 tools are limited to ~180°C cure cycles (120°C epoxy out-of-autoclave or 177°C prepreg autoclave cycles are at the operating limit). For 180°C/7 bar autoclave cure cycles, verify creep compliance under combined temperature and pressure load with specific part geometry.
Food contact compliance: NSF 51 certification is process-specific to Stratasys Fortus systems. Verify current NSF certification status for the specific machine and ULTEM 1010 lot being used before claiming food-contact compliance. Customer requirements may also require 3-A Sanitary Standards compliance for direct food or beverage contact.
Support material: ULTEM 1010 requires SR-110 support material (also high-temperature) which dissolves in an EcoWorks bath. Support removal quality affects part dimensional accuracy and surface finish. Internal channels <3 mm diameter may be difficult to clear of support material.
Surface finish: FDM ULTEM 1010 as-printed Ra ~5–12 µm (depending on raster angle and layer thickness). Can be post-machined (carbide tooling), hand-sanded, or vapour smoothed (Stratasys RD1000 treatment) to Ra <1.6 µm. For food-contact surfaces, specify Ra ≤0.8 µm and verify no open pores in contact zone.

Advantages

Highest HDT of any standard FDM material: 216°C at 0.45 MPa — exceeds PEEK FDM (148°C) and PEKK FDM (153°C) by a wide margin
NSF 51 food-contact certification: suitable for food processing equipment where FDA-compliant materials are required
ISO 10993 biocompatibility tested: suitable for non-implantable medical device components (housings, trays, instruments)
UL94 V-0 without additives: inherent flame retardance critical for aerospace and industrial applications
Autoclave-compatible up to 180°C, 10 bar: enables use as composite lay-up tooling — the primary advantage over lower-HDT polymers
Good dimensional stability: amorphous polymer with low moisture absorption (<0.25%) reduces hygroscopic dimensional change vs PA-based materials
Amber/honey colour allows visual inspection for defects and part-thickness assessment in thin sections
Licensed Stratasys material system: rigorous, well-characterised manufacturing process with documented traceability

Limitations

FDM ONLY: ULTEM 1010 is not available as SLS or other AM powder — restricted to extrusion-based processes on Stratasys licensed systems
Stratasys license restriction: ULTEM 1010 FDM is only available on Stratasys Fortus machines (licensed material cartridge system). Open-market FDM printers cannot use this material
Higher material cost than PEEK or PEKK FDM per part — partly due to Stratasys licensing premium
Z-direction is weak (~63 MPa) due to interlayer bonding limitations — part orientation is critical; Z-loaded structures should not use FDM ULTEM 1010
Amorphous: NO benefit from post-annealing (unlike PEEK or PEKK) — crystallinity cannot be induced by thermal treatment
Brittle failure mode in both XY and Z — not suitable for impact-critical applications; elongation 1.8–3.3% at break
NSF 51 certification applies only to parts produced on Stratasys Fortus with Stratasys-certified ULTEM 1010 material, using validated print settings and documented traceability — third-party or open-parameter prints are not NSF certified
Higher processing temperature requirement (chamber 210°C) than PEEK or PEKK FDM — dedicated high-temperature chamber is mandatory; standard FDM printers are incompatible

Typical applications

Autoclave tooling and mandrels for composite lay-up (operates at 120–180°C, 6 bar pressure)High-temperature jigs and fixtures for aerospace composite cureSterilisation trays and autoclave-compatible surgical instrument holders (134°C)Food-processing equipment components in contact with food or beverages (NSF 51 certified)Aerospace ground support equipment (GSE) exposed to high temperaturesElectrical connector housings and insulator components requiring HDT >200°CHigh-temperature test fixtures and prototype housings for electronics validationIndustrial robot end-effectors and gripper components in high-temperature environmentsSemiconductor fab equipment components (clean-room compatible, high temperature)

ULTEM 1010 (Polyetherimide PEI)

Mechanical & thermal properties — 2 conditions

Engineering considerations

Advantages

Limitations

Typical applications

Industries

Standards & certifications

Compatible AM processes (1)

Other polymer materials

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