Is PEEK strong enough for load-bearing implants?

PEEK has a tensile strength around 90–100 MPa and a flexural modulus near 3.5–4 GPa — roughly one tenth of the stiffness of Ti-6Al-4V. It works where the body can share the load, but for load-bearing fixation, titanium or CFR-PEEK is the safer call.

Can you machine PEEK to the same tolerance as titanium?

Yes — we hold ±0.005mm on critical dimensions in both. PEEK needs sharp tooling, controlled feeds and coolant strategy to avoid melting and burr formation; titanium needs rigid setups and heat control. Different toolpaths, same result.

Which material is more expensive to machine?

Titanium. The raw material costs more per kilo, and tool wear is roughly five to ten times higher than in aluminium or PEEK. A titanium part typically runs 2–3× the machining cost of the same PEEK part.

Do you provide material certs and traceability for medical parts?

Yes. Material certificates, CMM reports, FAI and dimensional inspection records are included — a complete traceable file for your device dossier.

Can titanium implants be sterilized repeatedly?

Ti-6Al-4V ELI survives autoclave, gamma and EtO sterilization without degradation. PEEK also tolerates repeated steam and gamma cycles, which is why both are standard in reusable surgical instruments.

Titanium vs PEEK for Medical Device Components: Selection Guide

Why This Comparison Comes Up in Every Medical RFQ

When a medical device drawing lands on our desk, the material callout is usually one of two names: Ti-6Al-4V ELI or PEEK. Both are biocompatible per ISO 10993, both machine well, both survive sterilization. The differences are mechanical — and that is where the drawing decides.

The Numbers That Matter

Property	Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Grade 23)	PEEK (unfilled)
Density	4.43 g/cm³	1.30 g/cm³
Tensile strength	~895 MPa	~90–100 MPa
Elastic modulus	~114 GPa	~3.5–4 GPa
Biocompatibility	ISO 10993, implant-grade	ISO 10993, implant-grade
Sterilization	Autoclave, gamma, EtO	Autoclave, gamma, EtO
Radiographic visibility	High (metal artifact)	Radiolucent (X-ray transparent)
Relative machining cost	2–3× PEEK	Baseline

When Titanium Wins

Ti-6Al-4V ELI is the default for anything that carries load: trauma plates, spinal fixation, bone screws, dental abutments, and the working end of surgical instruments where stiffness and edge retention matter. The modulus is still lower than stainless or cobalt-chrome, which is exactly why orthopedics chose it — it sits between bone and steel, reducing stress shielding.

From a machining standpoint, titanium rewards a rigid setup and low surface speed. We cut it on 5-axis centers with variable-flute end mills and flood coolant, holding ±0.005mm on critical dimensions and verifying on the Zeiss CMM. Threads, tapers and sealing surfaces are routine.

When PEEK Wins

PEEK earns its place in three situations. First, where radiolucency matters — surgeons want to see bone healing on X-ray without metal artifacts, so PEEK cages and spacers are standard. Second, where weight and wear matter: bushings, bearing surfaces and components that slide against metal or bone. Third, where you want an MRI-clean part with no metal at all.

Machining PEEK is a different discipline. It melts before it burns, so we use sharp polished-flute tooling, controlled chip loads and a coolant strategy that keeps the cut zone below the softening point. Done right, PEEK holds the same tolerances as metal — no burrs, no smearing, no rework.

CFR-PEEK: The Middle Ground

Carbon-fibre reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) pushes stiffness up to roughly 18–20 GPa, closing part of the gap to metal while keeping radiolucency and weight advantage. It is abrasive — carbide tooling wears fast and toolpath strategy changes. We quote it regularly for spinal and orthopedic applications where surgeons want both strength and imaging transparency.

How We Quote It

Send the drawing with the material grade, the sterilization method and the clinical context. The choice between Ti-6Al-4V ELI and PEEK is rarely wrong on paper — it is wrong when the drawing and the environment disagree. We flag that in DFM feedback before quoting, so you do not pay to machine the wrong material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PEEK strong enough for load-bearing implants?
PEEK has a tensile strength around 90–100 MPa and a flexural modulus near 3.5–4 GPa — roughly one tenth of the stiffness of Ti-6Al-4V. It works where the body can share the load, but for load-bearing fixation, titanium or CFR-PEEK is the safer call.
Can you machine PEEK to the same tolerance as titanium?
Yes — we hold ±0.005mm on critical dimensions in both. PEEK needs sharp tooling, controlled feeds and coolant strategy to avoid melting and burr formation; titanium needs rigid setups and heat control. Different toolpaths, same result.
Which material is more expensive to machine?
Titanium. The raw material costs more per kilo, and tool wear is roughly five to ten times higher than in aluminium or PEEK. A titanium part typically runs 2–3× the machining cost of the same PEEK part.
Do you provide material certs and traceability for medical parts?
Yes. Material certificates, CMM reports, FAI and dimensional inspection records are included — a complete traceable file for your device dossier.
Can titanium implants be sterilized repeatedly?
Ti-6Al-4V ELI survives autoclave, gamma and EtO sterilization without degradation. PEEK also tolerates repeated steam and gamma cycles, which is why both are standard in reusable surgical instruments.