Functionalized porous poly(aryl ether ketone) articles are prepared by reacting ketone groups in the backbone of poly(aryl ether ketone) polymer with a primary amine reagent. Preferred functional primary amines are primary aliphatic amines or substituted hydrazines containing one or more target functional groups including polar groups, such as hydroxyl groups, ˜OH, amino groups, ˜NH2, ˜NHR, ˜NRR′, and ethylene oxide groups, ˜OCH2CH2—, negatively or positively charged ionic groups, such as ˜SO3−, ˜COO−, and ˜NH4+groups, hydrophobic groups such as siloxane or perfluorcarbone groups, and non-polar groups, such as linear or branched hydrocarbon groups. The functionalized porous poly(aryl ether ketone) article can be prepared by reacting primary amine with a pre-formed, shaped porous poly(aryl ether ketone) article or by functionalizing the surface of a non-porous precursor article that is subsequently converted into a porous article.