High Performance Plastic · High Performance Thermoplastic
PEI
PEI is a high performance polymer — high-heat aerospace standard. Typical values: 105 MPa yield, 1.27 g/cm³, rated to 170 °C. Available for CNC machining, Sheet metal, Injection molding, 3D printing at FabDigit.
Properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled (1000) (unfilled) condition. Metric first, imperial in gray. The bars show where PEI sits against the other 74 polymer grades in the catalog.
Datasheet
| Yield strength | 105 MPa15 ksi |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 110 MPa16 ksi |
| Hardness | 109 HRM |
| Density | 1.27 g/cm³0.046 lb/in³ |
| Specific strength (yield ÷ density) | 83 |
| Min service temp | -40 °C-40 °F |
| Max service temp | 170 °C338 °F |
| Electrical conductivity | < 0.001 % IACSinsulator |
| Machinability | Very good70 / 100 |
| Weldability | Excellent85 / 100 |
| Formability | Poor15 / 100 |
| ISO 513 machining group | N |
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Against other polymer grades
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PEI is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PEI. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better70 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Not Recommend15 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Excellent85 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | 1.5 – 2.2 % |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | 1 – 3.5 mm |
| Recommended draft | 1.5 ° |
| Pre-drying | 80 °C for 4 h |
| UV resistance | Fair |
3D printing
| Technologies | FDM |
|---|---|
| Layer height | 50 – 300 µmdefault 100 µm |
| Minimum wall / feature | 1 / 0.5 mm |
| Build envelope | 300 × 300 × 380 mm |
| Supports | Yes |
| Anisotropy | Moderate |
Conditions and tempers
How PEI is supplied and what each state is for. The default is what FabDigit quotes unless your drawing says otherwise.
| Condition | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unfilled (1000)Default Grade Modifier | Toughest PEEK, easiest machining — most PEEK parts | — | — | — | — |
Standard (FAA Approved) Cert | Aircraft cabin parts needing FAA flame spec | — | — | — | — |
GF10 10% Glass Fiber (GF10) | Slightly stiffer than unfilled, keeps most of the toughness | — | — | — | — |
GF30 (2300) Reinforcement | 30% glass grade — high-rigidity precision parts | — | — | — | — |
Medical Cert | Skin-contact and medical device housings | — | — | — | — |
GF40 40% Glass Fiber (GF40) | Stiffer than GF30 for higher loads — more brittle, harder on tools | — | — | — | — |
GF20 20% Glass Fiber (GF20) | Mid stiffness without GF30 brittleness — loaded brackets | — | — | — | — |
GF30 30% Glass Fiber (GF30) | The structural default — mounts, housings, gears under sustained load | — | — | — | — |
Heat treatment and post-processing
Operations FabDigit's suppliers routinely run on PEI, ranked by how often they make sense for this grade.
Post-processing
| Manual Deburr | Deburrstandard |
|---|---|
| Edge Break (0.5mm) | Deburr |
| Heat-Stake Insert | Assembly |
| Ultrasonic Insert | Assembly |
| Laser Engrave | Marking |
| Press-fit Insert | Assembly |
| Silk Screen | Marking |
| CMM Inspection | Inspection |
| FAI Report | Inspection |
| Individual Bag | Packaging |
Surface finishes for PEI
Coatings and treatments compatible with polymer on the processes PEI runs on. Pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing.
Coating
- Clear Coating
- Conductive Coating
- EMI Shielding Coating
- Primer Coating
- Soft Touch Coating
- Tinted Coating
- UV Coating
- Waterproof Coating
Injection Molding Coating
- EMI Shielding Coating
- Soft Touch Coating
- Spray Painting
- UV Coating
Organic Coating
- Painting
Marking / Decoration
- Chemical Etching
- Dot Peen Marking
- Electro-chemical Etching
- Embossing / Debossing
- Hot Stamping
- In-Mold Labeling (IML)
- Ink Stamping
- Laser Marking
- Mechanical Engraving
- Pad Printing
- Vibro Engraving / Scribing
Metallization / Functional
- Chrome Plating (Plastic)
- Vacuum Metallization
Coloring
- Dyeing (Nylon)
- Painting
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PEI in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Sabic ULTEMUltemUltem PEI
- Also called
- Polyetherimide
- Other
- ULTEM 1000ULTEM 2300ULTEM 9085Ultem 1010PEI (Ultem 9085/1010)
Stock forms
Raw-material forms FabDigit sources PEI in.
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.