Evonik launches bone conduction VESTAKEEP® Fusion PEEK filament for 3D printing implants

● Expansion of VESTAKEEP® Fusion product line

● Improves osseointegration between bone and implant, accelerating bone healing

● Personalized implant design through additive manufacturing

Evonik further expands its portfolio of 3D printing biomaterials for medical technology
.
The newly developed VESTAKEEP® iC4800 3DF is an osteoconductive polyetheretherketone (PEEK) filament that enhances the fusion between bone and implant
.
This high-performance polymer can be processed by common extrusion-based 3D printing techniques, such as fused filament fabrication (FFF)
.

Accelerates bone healing and improves quality of life

As a biomaterial, this new PEEK filament is part of Evonik's VESTAKEEP® Fusion product line launched in 2020
.
This high-performance polymer possesses excellent biocompatibility and biostability
.
Thanks to a special functional additive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), the material also has excellent osteoconductive properties
.
BCP promotes the rapid attachment of osteocytes to the implant and positively affects the interfacial fusion between bone and implant (i.
e.
, osseointegration), thereby accelerating bone healing and rehabilitation
.

The VESTAKEEP® iC4800 3DF is dedicated to Fuse Fabrication (FFF) technology
.
The natural PEEK filament is 1.
75mm in diameter, wound on a spool, and is available in 250g and 500g sizes and can be used directly in standard PEEK material FFF 3D printing equipment
.
Test results in various 3D printing equipment, as well as customer feedback, have validated the superior processability of iC4800 3DF filament
.
In addition, VESTAKEEP® iC4800 3DF is specially designed to directly expose functional additives to the surface of 3D printed implants without subsequent processing, which is a major innovation in the field of osseointegrated PEEK biomaterials
.
Like other VESTAKEEP® Fusion products, the VESTAKEEP® iC4800 is produced under strict biomaterial quality control regulations
.

Boosting the development of medical 3D printing technology

Marc Knebel, head of the medical systems segment at Evonik, said: “No application field shows the typical advantages of 3D printing, such as personalization, design freedom, etc.
, more than the field of medical technology
.
Since the introduction of the first implant more than three years ago Since the introduction of high-grade PEEK filament, we have continued to develop innovative biomaterials, opening up more possibilities for the application of 3D printing technology in the field of personalized medicine
.
"

As a leading global manufacturer of high-performance polymers in the field of additive manufacturing for more than two decades, Evonik has provided the medical industry with a broad portfolio of 3D printed biomaterials that can be used to produce medical devices that come into short-term or permanent contact with the human body
.
In addition to VESTAKEEP® i4 3DF and VESTAKEEP® Care M40 3DF, Evonik offers biomaterials for 3D printing of medical implants including RESOMER® bioabsorbable filaments, powders and pellets
.