Evonik launches new dental-grade PEEK material with stiffness about twice that of unfilled PEEK

Image source: Evonik WeChat official account

DentalGoodNews｜On October 20, 2026, Germany's Evonik Industries AG released two new dental-grade polyetheretherketone (PEEK) grades, VESTAKEEP® DC4760 and DC4780. Both products are suitable for fixed and removable dental prostheses; DC4760 is dentin-shaded and DC4780 is gingiva-shaded, both supplied as rods or CAD/CAM discs.

An in vitro study published in "Dental Materials" tested the mechanical and biological properties of the two grades. According to the manufacturer's technical data sheets cited in the paper, both new materials have a flexural modulus of 7.5 GPa and a flexural strength of 180 MPa. Specimens were 1 mm × 2 mm × 15 mm bars, 10 per grade, subjected to three-point bending tests under dry room-temperature conditions.

In actual measurements, DC4760 showed a flexural modulus of 4.3±0.41 GPa and a flexural strength of 172.6±12.22 MPa. DC4780 showed 3.97±0.45 GPa and 194.64±15.44 MPa, respectively. The paper compared the test results with unfilled PEEK, which has a flexural modulus of 2.73 to 2.85 GPa and a flexural strength of approximately 170 MPa; the flexural modulus of both materials was nearly twice that of unfilled PEEK. In addition, the paper's results showed that the compressive modulus of DC4760 and DC4780 was 5.53 GPa and 5.96 GPa, respectively, more than twice that of unfilled PEEK; the flexural strength of both materials was at a level similar to that of unfilled PEEK.

In cytotoxicity tests conducted according to ISO 10993-5, neither material showed cytotoxicity toward mouse osteoblast precursor cells MC3T3-E1 or human gingival fibroblasts, comparable to unfilled PEEK. The researchers noted that the two materials may become viable alternative framework materials for fixed implant-supported restorations. However, the study had a small sample size and did not evaluate fatigue, thermomechanical aging, antagonist wear, or bonding durability after aging, and the biological evaluation was limited to in vitro cytotoxicity.

In terms of processing, the company states that both products are compatible with standard CAD/CAM workflows and offer polishability while retaining the wear resistance and plaque accumulation resistance of its dental PEEK products. They are suitable for long-term oral mucosal contact, and both materials are stiff enough for implant-supported dental prostheses and other high-load dental restorations.