Simulation of heat distribution and crystallization of PEEK in 3D printing

High-performance thermoplastics such as PEEK have become indispensable in areas such as aerospace and medical technology. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is used to manufacture complex components for these applications. In this process, semi-crystalline thermoplastics such as PEEK are particularly susceptible to deformation as they have different anisotropic properties depending on the temperature gradient during production. This paper presents a simulation approach that uses the finite difference method to calculate the heat distribution during 3D printing. Based on the cooling gradient crystallinity of the components are determined using the Nakamura model. Finally, the simulation of heat distribution is validated by experiments.