Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The global polyetheretherketone (PEEK) market is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.28% between 2024 and 2029.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a poly-aromatic thermoplastic polyester displaying a high degree of heat and chemical resistance. It has a nearly similar modulus of elasticity as compared to bone and has higher strength, stiffness, and toughness making it a suitable material for medical implant devices. PEEK has been utilized as a bone replacement material in spinal procedures, cranial implants, and other orthopedic devices including screws and plates. PEEK EPD has been developed to fabricate coatings on a variety of substrates. Coated metallic or alloy implants show enhanced mechanical capabilities, biocompatibility, chemical stability, and corrosion resistance qualities.

Polyetheretherketone, abbreviated as PEEK, is produced through step-growth polymerization with the help of bisphenolate salts. 4,4’-difluorobenzophenone or 1,4-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene reacts with hydroquinone to yield the title compound. It takes place in the presence of alkaline carbonates. The polymer is subsequently separated by removing the alkali metal fluoride and polymerization solvent.

This flexible, heat-resistant polymer is more expensive than most other engineering thermoplastics. However, PEEK's high thermal stability, along with great mechanical performance and chemical compatibility, make it a material that provides enormous value in the form of lightweight, long-lasting parts that can tolerate very harsh working conditions.

One such product is Greene Tweed’s Arlon 3000XT. Arlon 3000XT is a non-filled cross-linked thermoplastic used in traditional PEEK and PEK polymer which provides a more elongated mechanical, electrical & creep resistance at higher operating temperatures than 300° F (150 ° C).

GLOBAL POLYETHERETHERKETONE (PEEK) MARKET DRIVERS:

• Product advancements in polyetheretherketone (PEEK) promote market growth by improving mechanical, thermal, and chemical qualities and broadening its applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and electronics. Customizable formulas and composite materials allow personalized solutions for specific industrial requirements, hence increasing competitiveness. For example, the PEEK osteoconductive system has been specially developed by Evonik for the medical technology industry with improved fusion of the bone and implant. With the release of the novel biomaterial, the specialized chemicals business offers a new product range of next-generation PEEK-based implant materials under the brand name VESTAKEEP Fusion.

Whereas, DOMO Chemicals has expanded its THERMEC portfolio of improved polymers by introducing a cost-efficient product based on polyether ether ketone (PEEK) combined with a solid polymeric lubricant in 2020. The novel solution, which is currently available in India, was specifically designed to replace polyamide-imides (PAI) without compromising performance.

While breakthroughs in PEEK engineering plastic have already established it as a high-performance material, further research, and development are projected to yield additional benefits. There may be a shift towards improving the various processing methods applied to create PEEK plastic in the future. This will include using advanced 3D printing methods that are specially designed for PEEK to come up with enhanced fabrication strategies.

• Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is applied in the electronics industry since this material has high-temperature stability, inactivity to chemicals, and high mechanical characteristics which makes it suitable in electronics parts like connectors, insulators, and semiconductor parts that should not fail during certain extremes. The rise of the electrical and electronics sector has a significant influence on the PEEK market. According to the World Electronics Update 2020, the electronics sector crossed US$2.9 trillion. In the same year, electronics alone had a global market worth that was equal to India’s gross domestic product, US$2.9 trillion.

In addition to this electronics product import in the United States, as stated by the United States International Trade Commission surged from US$5,71,453 million in 2021 to a whooping US$6,29,871 million in the year 2022, further impacting the market growth.

GLOBAL POLYETHERETHERKETONE (PEEK) MARKET SEGMENT ANALYSIS:

Based on product type, carbon-filled is one of the fastest-growing segments.

Carbon-filled PEEK is generally used as a filler because of its high strength and other inherent characteristics which include low coefficient of thermal expansion, low modulus of elasticity, low creep rate, and excellent corrosion resistance. The TECAPEEK CF30 black is a 30% Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK material developed by the Ensinger Company. Its carbon fiber reinforcing gives the material a high degree of stiffness and creep strength. Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK has extremely high mechanical strength ratings while being less dense than 30% glass fiber-filled peek. Furthermore, carbon fiber composites are less abrasive than glass fibers, resulting in enhanced wear and friction qualities.

Another such example is Ketron CA30 Polyetheretherketone PEEK offered by Mitsubishi Chemical Group. It is a 30% carbon fiber-reinforced grade that outperforms Ketron GF30 PEEK in stiffness, mechanical strength, creep, and wear resistance. Ketron CA30 PEEK components are frequently preferred for their ability to rapidly dissipate heat in bearing applications since they have greatly decreased thermal expansion, optimal load-carrying capabilities, and high thermal conductivity rates.

Growing application of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in the aerospace industry.

Based on its performance, PEEK falls among the top thermoplastics commonly used in today’s world. Compared with metals, PEEK-based materials can be made lighter, are easier to shape, have superior chemical stability, and possess a much higher specific strength (strength-to-density ratio). PEEK is ideal for aerospace applications because, while being a thermoplastic, it has high heat resistance, little to no reactivity with dangerous chemicals and radiation, and equivalent tensile and load strength to titanium and steel while being much lighter.

With the advent of various initiatives, the aerospace industry is anticipated to grow which in turn fuels the utilization of PEEK in the industry. The Malaysian industrial and technology development framework recognizes aerospace and military as one of the key thrust areas for development. The Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030 was launched in Malaysia as a project that was considered to place the country in the market of aerospace products in the Southeast Asia region. There are about 200 types of aerospace industries in Malaysia, including foreign industries and domestic industries.

Furthermore, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is responsible for the overall planning, development, maintenance, operation, and management of civil aviation facilities in India under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. As of 2024, it has become one of the leading airport operators in the world with 24 International airports, 80 domestic airports, 23 domestic defense airfields, and 10 customs airports.

Since its creation in 1982, Victrex has been a participant in collaboration with world-class organizations to provide PEEK polymer products that replace metals, thermosets, and other polymers. They are used in more than 15,000 aircraft. Fasteners, including nuts, bolts, and inserts, offer lightweight joining and harnessing solutions for important aeronautical components.

Asia-Pacific's polyetheretherketone (PEEK) market is anticipated to grow significantly.

Owing to industrialization, advancement of technology, and the emergence of new application areas like aerospace, automotive, and electronics, it is expected that the Asia-Pacific market for polyetheretherketone (PEEK) will have a high growth rate as compared to other regions. The main players in the Indian market, including Tata’s Air India and IndiGo, bought 470 airplanes in the year 2023. Boeing Company and Airbus Industries consider India a strategic exporting nation and manufacturing hub for aircraft, parts, and equipment to meet the growing global demand, strategic geographical position, technical expertise, and low cost of labor.

China, on the other hand, is the world's largest automobile market in terms of yearly sales and manufacturing output, with local production projected to exceed 35 million vehicles by 2025. According to figures from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, more than 26 million automobiles were sold in 2021, including 21.48 million passenger vehicles, a 7.1% increase over 2020. Commercial vehicle sales totaled 4.79 million units, down 6.6% from 2020.

Fixed-asset investment in China's electronic information manufacturing business increased by 9.3 percent year on year in 2023, reflecting the sector's revival, according to government statistics. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that the increase was 0.3 percentage points more than that of China's entire industry.

Moreover, rising infrastructure investments, notably in China and India, are increasing demand for high-performance materials such as PEEK. Sustainability and high regulatory standards active in this area utilized PEEK in several applications where its mechanical, thermal, as well as chemical characteristics are essential. This expansion is further aided by continuous research and development operations targeted at improving PEEK's performance and increasing its commercial potential in Asia-Pacific.

Global Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Market Key Developments:

• In May 2023, Solvay, a global leader in specialized materials, introduced KetaSpire KT-857, a novel polyetheretherketone (PEEK) extrusion compound developed specifically for copper magnet wire insulation in electric motors. The creation of the custom-engineered insulating material was spurred by OEMs' shift to greater-density batteries and electric powertrains running at 800V or higher.
• In March 2023, Invibio Biomaterial Solutions, part of Victrex plc, launched PEEK-OPTIMA AM Filament, an implantable PEEK polymer optimized for additive manufacturing.
• In October 2021, Malema Sensors used Solvay's medical-grade KetaSpire polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resins to manufacture its SumoFlo single-use Coriolis flow meters, which are vital for vaccine manufacturing.

The global polyetheretherketone (PEEK) market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Product Type

• Glass Filled
• Carbon Filled
• Unfilled
• Others

By End-User Industry

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Electrical and Electronics
• Building and Construction
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of South America
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Rest of Middle East and Africa
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Rest of Asia-Pacific