BlueSky Polymers
BlueSky Polymers is a UNC Chapel Hill spin-out that develops reactive high-performance thermoplastics, including a reactive polyetherimide (xPEI) for SLS and FDM 3D printing and composites.
- CEO / Founder
- Edward T. Samulski
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Stage
- Early Stage
Technology & Products
Key Products
xPEI: a reactive polyetherimide based on the SABIC Ultem backbone, supplied as a reusable SLS powder and as FDM filament. xPAI: a reactive polyamide-imide. REAPER family of reactive high-performance thermoplastics for additive manufacturing and carbon-fiber composites.
Technological Advantage
Proprietary reactive-oligomer chemistry from UNC polymer research, combined with a partner model: Insight Polymers produces the resin at multi-kg scale, and ALM (an EOS company) handles powder preparation and SLS process optimization on EOS P-series systems.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reactive (REAPER) thermoplastic chemistries that flow readily during processing and then cure during a post-print heat treatment, raising glass transition temperature and strength. This allows high-temperature polymers such as PEI to be printed on existing SLS and FDM systems.
How They Differentiate
Uses a reactive, post-curable PEI chemistry rather than conventional non-reactive PEI or semicrystalline PAEK powders. The company targets amorphous high-temperature SLS parts with isotropic properties and an increased Tg after thermal cure, printable on existing machines.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Industrial manufacturers and AM service providers that need high-temperature, chemically resistant polymer parts, and materials and compounding partners that scale resin and powder production.
Industry Verticals
Aerospace and aviation (air handling and ducting); defense (drone and missile skins); data centers (fluid handling and cooling); semiconductors (test sockets); medical devices and surgical tools; automotive; oil and gas; composites.
Competitors
SABIC/Stratasys (ULTEM 9085/1010 FDM materials); Arkema (Kepstan PEKK for SLS/FFF); EOS / Oxford Performance Materials (PEKK SLS powders)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
xPEI is being produced in multi-kg quantities by Insight Polymers (Oct 2026). The partners are seeking early pilot customers.
Major Milestones
Aug 2020: BlueSky Polymers LLC founded (Delaware LLC; UNC Chapel Hill startup). Apr 2026: Air Force Research Laboratory contract FA2394-26-C-B016 awarded, worth up to $195.5K. Sep 28, 2026: xPEI presented at ICAM. Oct 2026: xPEI for SLS announced with Insight Polymers and ALM.