ULTEM 1010 (Polyetherimide PEI)
polymeramorphous high-performance thermoplastic (polyetherimide family)
SABIC ULTEM™ 1010PolyetherimidePEIUltem 1010 ResinStratasys ULTEM 1010
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 | — |
| Glass transition (Tg) | 212–222 °C | — |
| Max service temperature | 160–180 °C | — |
Values shown as min–max where a spread is reported, otherwise as typical ± unit. Ranges reflect inter-source variation, not single-sample scatter. All values are for AM-processed specimens unless noted.
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)
Industries
aerospacemedicalfood-processingindustrial
Standards & certifications
Compatible AM processes (1)
Other polymer materials
PA12 (Polyamide 12)semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyamidePA12-CF (Carbon Fibre PA12)carbon fibre reinforced polyamide-12 compositePA11 (Polyamide 11)semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyamide (bio-based)PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)semi-crystalline high-performance aromatic thermoplasticPEKK (Polyetherketoneketone)semi-crystalline high-performance aromatic thermoplastic (PAEK family)PLA (Polylactic Acid)semi-crystalline bio-derived thermoplastic polyesterPETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)amorphous/semi-crystalline copolyester thermoplasticABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)amorphous engineering thermoplastic terpolymerTPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)elastomeric thermoplastic block copolymerPC (Polycarbonate)amorphous engineering thermoplastic polycarbonateASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)amorphous engineering thermoplastic terpolymerNylon PA6 / PA66 (Polyamide 66)semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic polyamidePP (Polypropylene SLS/MJF)semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefinPEBA (Polyether Block Amide / TPA)thermoplastic elastomeric polyether block amide copolymer
Related calculators
Surface Treatment SelectorRank post-print surface treatments (shot peening, electropolishing, tumbling, PVD, and more) against Ra target, material, fatigue criticality, and corrosion requirements.Dimensional AccuracyExpected dimensional deviation (mean bias ± 1σ) for XY and Z axes by process, material class, and geometry type. Based on aggregated published accuracy datasets. Answers: what tolerance can I realistically hold?
Last reviewed: 2026-05-13 · v1 · Sources: sabic-ultem-1010-2022, basgul-2018-fdm-polymers, zaldivar-2017-ultem-fdm, stratasys-ultem-9085-2023, ASTM-E8
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