The Use of Non-Degradable Polymer (Polyetheretherketone) in Personalized Orthopedics—Review Article

Abstract

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer which, due to its very high mechanical properties and high chemical resistance, has found application in the automotive, aerospace, chemical, food and medical (biomedical engineering) industries. Owing to the use of additive technologies, particularly the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method, this material is the most widely used plastic to produce skull reconstruction implants, parts of dental implants and orthopedic implants, including spinal, knee and hip implants. PEEK enables the creation of personalized implants, which not only have greater elasticity compared to implants made of metal alloys but also resemble the physical properties of the cortical layer of human bone in terms of their mechanical properties. Therefore, the aim of this article is to characterize polyether ether ketone as an alternative material used in the manufacturing of implants in orthopedics and dentistry.