Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Polyetherimide
open-in-new
<p>Polyetherimide (PEI; branded as Ultem) is an amorphous, amber-to-transparent <a href="/facts/Thermoplastic/5KJB8dwN">thermoplastic</a> with characteristics similar to the related plastic <a href="/facts/PEEK/tUz9uX9U">PEEK</a>. When comparing PEI to PEEK, the former is cheaper but has lower impact strength and a tighter temperature range. </p><p>PEI plastics were first introduced into the market by General Electric (GE) in 1982 under the <a href="/facts/Trade_name/0tbWP1Sn">trade name</a> Ultem resulting from the work of J.G. Wirth's research team in the early 1970s. </p><p>Due to its <a href="/facts/Adhesion/NuVQPk4z">adhesive</a> properties and chemical stability it became a popular bed material for <a href="/facts/Fused_filament_fabrication/9g464H6S">FFF</a> <a href="/facts/3D_printer/lbvWU3t0">3D printers</a>. </p>