{ "spore": "profile", "id": "pei-ultem", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "high-performance-polymers", "name": "Polyetherimide", "abbreviation": "PEI", "role": "high-performance thermoplastic (Ultem), flame-retardant grades for moulding and FDM printing", "category": "polymers", "type": "high-performance", "summary": "Polyetherimide (PEI, sold as Ultem) is an amorphous, high-temperature thermoplastic. The base resin, Ultem 1000 (SABIC datasheet), has a density of 1.27 g/cm3, a glass transition of 217 degC and a yield strength of 110 MPa (ISO 527). The FDM grade Ultem 9085, read from a Materialise page, has a density of 1.34 g/cm3, a tensile strength of 70 MPa, a heat deflection temperature of 173 degC at 1.82 MPa and a glass transition of 186 degC (DSC). Ensinger lists a continuous service temperature of 170 degC for PEI. As a sample on the MISSE 2 experiment in low Earth orbit it had an atomic oxygen erosion yield of 3.31e-24 cm3/atom, which is a lower bound because the sample eroded through.\n", "best_for": "High-temperature parts that need flame retardance and stiffness, with a glass transition of 217 degC for the base resin and 186 degC for the 9085 FDM grade", "weakest_at": "Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit: an erosion yield of at least 3.31e-24 cm3/atom on the MISSE 2 sample; stress cracking in chlorinated solvents", "identity": { "formula": "Polyetherimide, repeat unit C37H24O6N2 (molar mass 592.61 g/mol), made of phthalimide and bisphenol A sub-units", "cas": "61128-46-9", "designations": [], "source": "wiki-pei", "where": "Wikipedia Polyetherimide page (infobox: CAS number, repeat-unit formula and molar mass; Structure section). The CAS number is the Wikipedia infobox value. The 9085 FDM grade is a modified formulation, so its CAS is not implied." }, "tags": { "environments": [ "low-earth-orbit" ], "stresses": [ "atomic-oxygen" ], "applications": [ "structures", "electronics-and-chips", "in-space-manufacturing" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 1.34, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 (FDM filament/print grade, not the base resin)", "test": "ASTM D792" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise Ultem 9085 materials page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Density row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 70, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D638", "orientation": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page; the page says actual values vary with build conditions and orientation", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Tensile strength row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "tensile_modulus", "label": "Tensile modulus, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 2465, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D638", "orientation": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Tensile modulus row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "elongation_at_break", "label": "Elongation at break, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 5.4, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D638", "orientation": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Elongation at break row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "flexural_strength", "label": "Flexural strength, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 100, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D790", "orientation": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Flexural strength row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "flexural_modulus", "label": "Flexural modulus, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 2400, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D790", "orientation": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Flexural modulus row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "izod_impact", "label": "Notched Izod impact strength, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 88, "bound": "exact", "unit": "J/m", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D256" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Impact strength (notched Izod) row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature", "label": "Heat deflection temperature, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 173, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "test": "ASTM D648", "load": "1.82 MPa (printed as @1.82 MPa)" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Heat deflection temperature row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "glass_transition_temperature", "label": "Glass transition temperature, Ultem 9085 FDM grade", "value": 186, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "Ultem 9085 FDM", "method": "DSC (printed as DSC (SSYS))" }, "method": "Value printed on the Materialise page", "status": "ground", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials property table, Glass transition temperature row", "source_detail": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "continuous_service_temperature", "value": 170, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "PEI unfilled, as printed in the Ensinger PEI page", "note": "page gives 170 degC against 160 degC for PSU; no test standard printed" }, "method": "Value printed on the Ensinger PEI page (High continuous service temperature)", "status": "ground", "source": "ensinger-pei", "where": "Ensinger PEI plastic page, PEI properties list", "source_detail": { "title": "PEI plastic (Ensinger)", "id": "Ensinger, PEI plastic page", "url": "https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en/thermoplastic-materials/pei-plastic", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield", "label": "Atomic oxygen erosion yield, MISSE 2 PEI sample (ISS, low Earth orbit)", "value": 3.31e-24, "bound": "lower", "unit": "cm3/atom", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "environment": "low Earth orbit, ISS MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray 1 (outside the Quest airlock)", "exposure": "2001-08-16 to 2005-07-30 (3.95 years)", "atomic_oxygen_fluence": "8.43e21 atoms/cm2", "solar_exposure": "5000-6700 equivalent sun hours", "thermal_cycling": "-30 to 40 degC (nominal base-plate range)" }, "method": "Flight value from the NASA MISSE 2 passport; sample eroded through, so the true yield is higher", "status": "flight", "source": "nasa-misse2", "where": "Table I (NASA/TM-2008-215490); exposure details in section 2.1", "source_detail": { "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit", "id": "NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, Backus and de Groh, December 2008)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780", "year": 2008, "kind": "report", "license": "Public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 1.27, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin (unreinforced, natural)", "test": "ISO 1183 (ASTM D792 gives the same 1.27 on the same datasheet)" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC ULTEM 1000 datasheet (revision 20260625)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, PHYSICAL section, Density row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "yield_strength", "label": "Tensile stress at yield, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 110, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin (unreinforced)", "test": "ISO 527, 50 mm/min" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (ASTM D638 Type I, 50 mm/min, gives 115 MPa on the same sheet)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, MECHANICAL section, Tensile Stress yield row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "elongation", "label": "Tensile strain at break, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 50, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 527, 50 mm/min" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (ASTM D638 Type I gives 60 %)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, MECHANICAL section, Tensile Strain break row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "elastic_modulus", "label": "Tensile modulus, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 3200, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 527, 1 mm/min" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (ASTM D638 at 5 mm/min gives 3350 MPa)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, MECHANICAL section, Tensile Modulus row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "flexural_strength", "label": "Flexural stress at yield, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 160, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 178, 2 mm/min" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (ASTM D790 gives 165 MPa at 1.3 mm/min)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, MECHANICAL section, Flexural Stress yield row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "flexural_modulus", "label": "Flexural modulus, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 3300, "bound": "exact", "unit": "MPa", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 178, 2 mm/min" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, MECHANICAL section, Flexural Modulus row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "izod_impact", "label": "Notched Izod impact strength, ULTEM 1000 base resin, 23 C", "value": 53, "bound": "exact", "unit": "J/m", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ASTM D256", "temperature": "23 degC" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (ISO 180/1A gives 6 kJ/m2 at 23 degC)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, IMPACT section, Izod impact notched 23 degC row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature", "label": "Heat deflection temperature, ULTEM 1000 base resin, 1.82 MPa", "value": 201, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin, unannealed", "test": "ASTM D648", "load": "1.82 MPa, 6.4 mm bar" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (the 0.45 MPa value on the same sheet is 210 degC)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, THERMAL section, HDT 1.82 MPa 6.4 mm row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "vicat_softening_temperature", "label": "Vicat softening temperature, ULTEM 1000 base resin, rate A/50", "value": 215, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 306, method A/50" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (rate B/50 gives 211 degC)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, THERMAL section, Vicat Softening Temp Rate A/50 row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "glass_transition_temperature", "label": "Glass transition temperature, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 217, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin (unreinforced amorphous PEI)" }, "method": "Stated in the SABIC datasheet description (may offer a high Tg of 217 degC); also stated in the Wikipedia PEI article", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Datasheet DESCRIPTION paragraph, first sentence", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity", "label": "Thermal conductivity, ULTEM 1000 base resin", "value": 0.22, "bound": "exact", "unit": "W/m-degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 8302" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, THERMAL section, Thermal Conductivity row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "cte", "label": "Coefficient of thermal expansion, ULTEM 1000 base resin, -40 to 150 C, flow", "value": 0.000052, "bound": "exact", "unit": "1/degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 11359-2", "range": "-40 to 150 degC, flow direction" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet (cross-flow value is the same)", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, THERMAL section, CTE flow row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "moisture_absorption", "label": "Water absorption, ULTEM 1000 base resin, 24 h at 23 C", "value": 0.25, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 62-1 (ASTM D570 gives the same 0.25 %)", "exposure": "23 degC, 24 h immersion" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, PHYSICAL section, Water Absorption 23 C 24 hrs row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "moisture_absorption", "label": "Water absorption, ULTEM 1000 base resin, saturated at 23 C", "value": 1.25, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "grade": "ULTEM 1000 resin", "test": "ISO 62-1 (ASTM D570 gives the same 1.25 %)", "exposure": "23 degC, saturated" }, "method": "Typical value printed on the SABIC datasheet", "status": "ground", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Typical property values, PHYSICAL section, Water Absorption 23 C saturated row", "source_detail": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Low Earth orbit, atomic oxygen (MISSE 2, ISS outside the Quest airlock, 3.95 years)", "headline": "Atomic oxygen eroded the PEI sample through, so its erosion yield is only a lower bound.", "effect": "The MISSE 2 PEI sample recorded an erosion yield of 3.31e-24 cm3/atom at an atomic oxygen fluence of 8.43e21 atoms/cm2. The sample eroded through, so the true yield is higher than this value.", "rating": "severe", "conditions": { "fluence": "8.43e21 atoms/cm2", "duration": "3.95 years", "sun_exposure": "5000-6700 equivalent sun hours" }, "source": "nasa-misse2", "where": "Table I (NASA/TM-2008-215490); passport exposure details" }, { "environment": "Hot water and repeated steam sterilisation", "headline": "Very good hydrolysis resistance; PEI is suitable for repeated steam sterilisation in medical and food applications.", "effect": "Ensinger lists very good hydrolysis resistance as a PEI property and names repeated steam sterilisation for medical and food use. SABIC lists hydrolytic stability among the features of ULTEM 1000. No cycle count, temperature or retention figure was printed on either page.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "cycle": "repeated steam sterilisation (no number printed)" }, "source": "ensinger-pei", "where": "PEI properties and specifications list (Very good hydrolysis resistance)" }, { "environment": "Water immersion at 23 C", "headline": "Water uptake is low, 0.25 percent after 24 h and 1.25 percent at saturation.", "effect": "The base resin takes up 0.25 percent water in 24 hours and 1.25 percent at saturation at 23 C (ISO 62-1). Both values are printed on the SABIC datasheet. The 9085 FDM grade has no water-uptake value in this profile.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "time": "24 h and saturated", "temperature": "23 degC" }, "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "PHYSICAL section, Water Absorption rows" }, { "environment": "Chlorine and caustic or acidic cleaning agents", "headline": "Good chemical resistance to chlorine and to caustic or acidic cleaners (Ensinger).", "effect": "Ensinger lists good chemical resistance to chlorine and caustic/acidic cleaning agents. SABIC describes very good chemical resistance for an amorphous material. No concentration, time or temperature was printed.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "agents": "chlorine, caustic and acidic cleaners" }, "source": "ensinger-pei", "where": "PEI properties and specifications list (chemical resistance bullet)" }, { "environment": "Chlorinated solvents under stress", "headline": "PEI is prone to stress cracking in chlorinated solvents.", "effect": "Wikipedia states that PEI is prone to stress cracking in chlorinated solvents. No solvent name, stress level or time to crack is given in the article.", "rating": "moderate", "conditions": { "stress": "applied or residual (not quantified)" }, "source": "wiki-pei", "where": "Properties section, first paragraph" }, { "environment": "Ultraviolet light with water exposure", "headline": "UV-C resistant; the datasheet rates UV-light water exposure or immersion as F2 under UL 746C.", "effect": "SABIC lists UV-C resistance among the features of ULTEM 1000 and gives an F2 result for UV-light water exposure or immersion under UL 746C. The F code is printed as F2 without a numeric dose or retention.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "test": "UL 746C UV-light water exposure/immersion" }, "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Features list (UV-C resistant); Electrical section, UL 746C row" }, { "environment": "Fire and smoke", "headline": "UL 94 V-0 at 0.75 mm and 5VA at 3 mm; NBS smoke density 0.7 at 4 minutes (ASTM E662).", "effect": "The natural resin is inherently flame retardant (UL 94 V-0 at 0.75 mm, 5VA at 3 mm, aerospace FAR 25.853). The datasheet gives NBS smoke density Ds 0.7 at 4 min (flaming, ASTM E662). Ensinger lists low smoke emission as a key aerospace property.", "rating": "none", "conditions": { "thickness": "0.75 mm (V-0), 3 mm (5VA)" }, "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Description paragraph; UL 94 rows; NBS Smoke Density row" }, { "environment": "Radiation", "headline": "Good radiation resistance, per Ensinger, with no dose or retention figure printed.", "effect": "Ensinger lists good radiation resistance as a PEI property. The page gives no dose, dose rate or retained property. No radiation result is in this profile beyond that claim.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "dose": "not printed" }, "source": "ensinger-pei", "where": "PEI properties and specifications list (Good radiation resistance)" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "PubChem aggregated GHS for m-phenylenediamine, the diamine monomer (CID 7935): H301 toxic if swallowed and H311 toxic in contact with skin (each listed in 100 percent of notifications), with H317, H331, H341, H361 and H372 also listed. This describes the monomer, not the polymer. No SDS for PEI polymer was read.", "ghs": [ "H301", "H311", "H317", "H331", "H341", "H361", "H372" ], "source": "pubchem-mpda", "where": "Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (aggregated)" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Stress cracking in chlorinated solvents", "trigger": "Chlorinated solvent in contact with a stressed PEI part", "consequence": "Stress cracking; Wikipedia gives no solvent name, stress level or time", "source": "wiki-pei", "where": "Properties section" }, { "mode": "Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit", "trigger": "Atomic oxygen fluence in LEO (8.43e21 atoms/cm2 on MISSE 2, 3.95 years)", "consequence": "Surface erosion; the MISSE 2 sample eroded through, so the yield is a lower bound", "severity": "critical", "source": "nasa-misse2", "where": "Table I (NASA/TM-2008-215490)" } ], "side_effects": [], "handling": [ { "text": "Dry before moulding. SABIC gives a drying temperature of 140 to 150 degC for 4 to 6 h, with a cumulative drying time of 24 h and a maximum moisture content of 0.02 percent for injection moulding.", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Processing section, injection moulding and extrusion blow moulding rows" }, { "text": "Melt temperature is 350 to 410 degC for injection moulding (SABIC), and mould temperature is 135 to 180 degC.", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Processing section, injection moulding rows" } ], "mitigations": [ { "text": "Keep chlorinated solvents away from stressed parts (Wikipedia).", "source": "wiki-pei", "where": "Properties section" }, { "text": "Dry the resin to 0.02 percent moisture or less before moulding (SABIC).", "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Processing section" } ] }, "uses": [ { "application": "in-space-manufacturing", "device": "FDM 3D-printed parts in Ultem 9085 (flame-retardant grade)", "example": "Materialise describes Ultem 9085 as a pioneering flame-retardant thermoplastic for additive manufacturing.", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials page, product description" }, { "application": "structures", "device": "FDM 3D-printed aerospace parts in Ultem 9085", "example": "Materialise says 9085 suits production-grade end-use parts, particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries.", "source": "materialise-9085", "where": "Materials page, product description (aerospace and automotive sentence)" }, { "application": "structures", "device": "Aircraft interior components (ULTEM 1000 base resin)", "example": "SABIC lists Aircraft Interiors under Mass Transportation for the ULTEM 1000 grade; Ensinger calls PEI a preferred material for aircraft interiors.", "source": "sabic-ultem1000-eu", "where": "Market segments table, Mass Transportation row; Ensinger PEI description paragraph (via ensinger-pei)" }, { "application": "electronics-and-chips", "device": "Coils and fuses", "example": "Ensinger lists coils and fuses under the electronics industry for PEI.", "source": "ensinger-pei", "where": "PEI applications and areas of use, Electronics industry" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "Resin producer", "abundance": "SABIC makes the ULTEM resin. Its ULTEM 1000 datasheets are published by SABIC, and Ensinger extrudes its PEI plate and rod from SABIC ULTEM. No production volume or country share was printed.", "producers": [ { "country": "SABIC" } ], "critical_lists": [], "recycling": "Not sourced.", "substitutes": [ "Polysulfone (PSU) can often be used interchangeably with PEI, per Ensinger; PEI has a higher continuous temperature (170 degC against 160 degC), higher strength and higher stiffness." ], "source": "sabic-ultem1000", "where": "Datasheet copyright line (SABIC); Ensinger PEI vs PSU section (via ensinger-pei)" } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "Materialise: Ultem 9085 materials page (FDM)", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "Ensinger: PEI plastic (Ultem) page", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en/thermoplastic-materials/pei-plastic", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "NASA/TM-2008-215490: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780", "year": 2008 }, { "title": "SABIC: ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values datasheet (revision 20260625)", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "SABIC: ULTEM 1000 resin datasheet, EU region (revision 20200108)", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://s651cb2b1e69afc5a.jimcontent.com/download/version/1714045832/module/8517676398/name/ULTEM_1000-1000-gb_sabic.pdf", "year": 2020 }, { "title": "PubChem CID 7935: m-phenylenediamine (GHS classification)", "type": "database", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7935", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "PubChem CID 94483: bisphenol A dianhydride (BPADA), monomer formula and molar mass", "type": "database", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/94483", "year": 2026 } ], "gaps": [ "Repeat unit C37H24O6N2 and monomers (bisphenol A dianhydride, m-phenylenediamine) are from Wikipedia and PubChem. The imidisation route is from Wikipedia (production paragraph). The elemental percentages in the recipe are computed from the formula with standard atomic weights; the atomic weights are not from a fetched page.", "Not found - feedstock and abundance for the PEI monomers, country shares of resin production, and critical-mineral lists. No USGS or EU list entry for PEI or its monomers was read.", "Not found - outgassing values (TML, CVCM, WVR) for PEI. The NASA outgassing database search page is dynamic and returned no Ultem rows in the static HTML. SABIC lists low outgassing only as a qualitative feature.", "Not found - hazard data for the dianhydride (BPADA) and for PEI polymer; no SDS was read. Hazards for m-phenylenediamine come from PubChem aggregated GHS, not a supplier SDS.", "Not found - a connector application; no source read in this run names PEI connectors. The sterilisable medical tray use is supported only by the Ensinger hydrolysis and steam-sterilisation claim and the SABIC Surgical devices market row; the allowed application list has no medical category, so it is not entered as a use.", "Not in the property canon - UL 746B relative temperature index of 170 degC (electrical and mechanical with and without impact, SABIC) and NBS smoke density Ds 0.7. They are recorded in corrosion text only.", "Unreachable or unread in this run - Curbell (page without PEI values), Professional Plastics (403), Quadrant (no response), and the SABIC main product page. Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials was not opened.", "No UV dose, radiation dose or thermal-vacuum result for PEI; only qualitative claims (Ensinger, SABIC) are recorded.", "Only the 9085 grade has a sourced tensile, flexural and HDT set from Materialise; the base resin set is from SABIC. Both are labelled by grade." ], "story": { "why": "PEI keeps its stiffness at high temperature. The base resin has a glass transition of 217 degC and a heat deflection temperature of 201 degC at 1.82 MPa, and the 9085 FDM grade has a glass transition of 186 degC. Its repeat unit has a rigid imide ring with an ether and isopropylidene link, which gives flexibility for melt processing.", "uses": [ { "where": "Aircraft interiors", "line": "SABIC lists Aircraft Interiors under Mass Transportation for ULTEM 1000. Ensinger calls PEI a preferred material for aircraft interiors because it is inherently flame retardant with low smoke emission." }, { "where": "Aerospace 3D printing", "line": "Materialise says 9085 suits production-grade parts, particularly in aerospace and automotive, with the flame-retardant grade used for FDM printing." }, { "where": "Electronics", "line": "Ensinger lists coils and fuses under its electronics applications for PEI." }, { "where": "Chemical and laboratory equipment", "line": "Ensinger lists laboratory equipment under its chemical industry applications for PEI." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Hold a heat", "line": "Hold a heat deflection temperature of 201 degC at 1.82 MPa for the base resin (SABIC, ASTM D648).", "scope": "material", "value": "201 degC" }, { "label": "Give a continuous", "line": "Give a continuous service temperature of 170 degC for PEI (Ensinger), and a UL 746B relative temperature index of 170 degC (SABIC).", "scope": "material", "value": "170 degC" }, { "label": "Resist flame", "line": "Pass UL 94 V-0 at 0.75 mm without added flame retardant, and 5VA at 3 mm (SABIC).", "scope": "material", "value": "UL 94 V-0" }, { "label": "Survive steam", "line": "Withstand repeated steam sterilisation, per Ensinger, with very good hydrolysis resistance.", "scope": "material", "value": "repeated" } ], "compare": "The base resin Ultem 1000 has a density of 1.27 g/cm3, a yield strength of 110 MPa and a tensile modulus of 3200 MPa (ISO 527), with a heat deflection temperature of 201 degC at 1.82 MPa. The 9085 FDM grade is less stiff and has a density of 1.34 g/cm3, a tensile strength of 70 MPa and a heat deflection temperature of 173 degC. In low Earth orbit the MISSE 2 sample eroded through, so the erosion yield is at least 3.31e-24 cm3/atom.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Density", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Tensile strength", "benchmark": "tensile_strength", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Heat deflection temperature", "benchmark": "heat_deflection_temperature", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Dry the resin before moulding: 140 to 150 degC for 4 to 6 h, cumulative 24 h, to a maximum of 0.02 percent moisture (SABIC).", "Injection moulding melt temperature is 350 to 410 degC and mould temperature 135 to 180 degC (SABIC).", "Keep chlorinated solvents away from stressed parts (Wikipedia)." ], "good_for": [ "Printed or moulded parts that must stay stiff at 170 degC to 201 degC.", "Flame-retardant aircraft interior parts and electrical coil formers, per Ensinger and SABIC.", "Parts that are steam sterilised repeatedly, per Ensinger." ], "watch_out": [ "Values are for the grade named on each row: the base resin (SABIC) or the 9085 FDM grade (Materialise).", "The atomic oxygen erosion yield is a lower bound.", "Chlorinated solvents cause stress cracking; keep them away from stressed parts.", "The monomer m-phenylenediamine is toxic; the PEI polymer hazard data is not sourced." ], "verdict": "PEI is a flame-retardant amorphous thermoplastic. The base resin Ultem 1000 has a density of 1.27 g/cm3, a glass transition of 217 degC and a heat deflection temperature of 201 degC at 1.82 MPa, and it passes UL 94 V-0. Ensinger and SABIC both support repeated steam sterilisation and low water uptake. In low Earth orbit the MISSE 2 sample eroded through, so its erosion yield is at least 3.31e-24 cm3/atom. Outgassing values and polymer hazard data are still missing.", "recipe": { "line": "Polyetherimide is made by imidisation of a flexible dianhydride with m-phenylenediamine (Wikipedia, Production). The dianhydride is based on bisphenol A and has ether and isopropylidene links, which give flexibility and melt processability (Wikipedia). The repeat unit is C37H24O6N2, molar mass 592.61 g/mol, with phthalimide and bisphenol A sub-units (Wikipedia). The monomer formulas give C31H20O8 + C6H8N2 to C37H24O6N2 + 2 H2O, so each repeat unit releases two water molecules (PubChem formulas, CID 94483 and CID 7935).", "parts": [ { "name": "Bisphenol A dianhydride", "symbol": "BPADA", "role": "Flexible dianhydride with ether and isopropylidene links; gives the chain its melt processability.", "share_note": "82.8 percent of the monomer charge by mass (computed from 520.5 and 108.14 g/mol); atoms C31H20O8" }, { "name": "m-Phenylenediamine", "symbol": "mPDA", "role": "Diamine that closes the imide rings with the dianhydride.", "share_note": "17.2 percent of the monomer charge by mass (computed); atoms C6H8N2" }, { "name": "Carbon", "symbol": "C", "role": "About three quarters of the repeat unit by mass (computed from C37H24O6N2, standard atomic weights).", "atoms": 37, "share_percent": 75 }, { "name": "Hydrogen", "symbol": "H", "role": "Computed share of the repeat unit by mass.", "atoms": 24, "share_percent": 4.1 }, { "name": "Oxygen", "symbol": "O", "role": "Computed share of the repeat unit by mass; the ether and imide carbonyl oxygens.", "atoms": 6, "share_percent": 16.2 }, { "name": "Nitrogen", "symbol": "N", "role": "Computed share of the repeat unit by mass; the imide nitrogens.", "atoms": 2, "share_percent": 4.7 } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For people", "lead": "No safety data sheet for the PEI polymer was read. The PubChem record below is for the diamine monomer.", "points": [ { "label": "m-Phenylenediamine", "line": "PubChem aggregated GHS for the diamine monomer lists H301 and H311 (toxic if swallowed or in contact with skin) in all notifications, with H317, H331, H341, H361 and H372 also listed." }, { "label": "Workshop", "line": "Printing or moulding PEI can release fume from heating. Check the supplier safety data sheet before work." } ], "level": 1, "verdict": "Monomer hazards are the watch point" }, { "title": "In the environment", "lead": "Low Earth orbit erodes the surface; chlorinated solvents crack stressed parts.", "points": [ { "label": "Atomic oxygen", "line": "The MISSE 2 sample eroded through at 3.31e-24 cm3/atom (lower bound), the severe rating in the corrosion list." }, { "label": "Chlorinated solvents", "line": "Wikipedia says PEI is prone to stress cracking in chlorinated solvents." } ], "level": 2, "verdict": "Atomic oxygen is the severe route in orbit" }, { "title": "Heat and steam", "lead": "PEI tolerates repeated steam sterilisation and low water uptake.", "points": [ { "label": "Steam", "line": "Ensinger lists very good hydrolysis resistance and repeated steam sterilisation for medical and food applications." }, { "label": "Water", "line": "SABIC gives 0.25 percent water absorption in 24 h and 1.25 percent at saturation at 23 C (ISO 62-1)." } ], "level": 0, "verdict": "Hydrolysis resistance is a strength" } ] }, "updated": "2026-10-16", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 0, "unreachable": 0, "caveats": 0 }, "sources": { "materialise-9085": { "title": "Ultem 9085 materials page (Materialise)", "id": "Materialise, Ultem 9085", "url": "https://www.materialise.com/en/manufacturing/materials/ultem-9085", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" }, "ensinger-pei": { "title": "PEI plastic (Ensinger)", "id": "Ensinger, PEI plastic page", "url": "https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en/thermoplastic-materials/pei-plastic", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" }, "nasa-misse2": { "title": "Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit", "id": "NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, Backus and de Groh, December 2008)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780", "year": 2008, "kind": "report", "license": "Public domain (NASA)" }, "sabic-ultem1000": { "title": "ULTEM Resin 1000 typical property values (SABIC Material Finder datasheet)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM Resin 1000, revision 20260625", "url": "https://materialfinder.sabic-specialties.com/document-download/69d81a01-36d8-eb11-810a-005056857ef3", "year": 2026, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" }, "sabic-ultem1000-eu": { "title": "ULTEM 1000 resin datasheet, EU region (SABIC)", "id": "SABIC, ULTEM 1000 EU datasheet, revision 20200108", "url": "https://s651cb2b1e69afc5a.jimcontent.com/download/version/1714045832/module/8517676398/name/ULTEM_1000-1000-gb_sabic.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "Cited, not reproduced" }, "wiki-pei": { "title": "Polyetherimide (Wikipedia)", "id": "Wikipedia, Polyetherimide article (infobox, Properties, Production)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyetherimide", "year": 2026, "kind": "web", "license": "CC-BY-SA-4.0" }, "pubchem-mpda": { "title": "m-Phenylenediamine, PubChem CID 7935", "id": "PubChem CID 7935", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7935", "year": 2026, "kind": "database", "license": "Public domain (NIH PubChem)" }, "pubchem-bpada": { "title": "4,4'-(4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride), PubChem CID 94483", "id": "PubChem CID 94483", "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/94483", "year": 2026, "kind": "database", "license": "Public domain (NIH PubChem)" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/pei-ultem/" }