Description

Polyimide (PI)

Polyimide is a non melting high temperature polymer.  Strength, dimensional stability, and creep resistance remain high even at temperatures above 260°C. Low wear rates combined with the ability to work under unlubricated conditions and high pV-rates makes it the ideal material for challenging friction and wear applications, extending lifetime and reducing maintenance costs.  Its high purity and low outgassing are needed for applications in the vacuum, space and semiconductor industry.

Special properties of Polyimide (PI)

• Long-term thermal stability 300 °C (short-term up to 400 °C)
• Good cryogenic properties down to -270 °C
• High strength, modulus and stiffness also at high temperatures over 260 °C
• Excellent wear resistance under high surface pressure and high sliding speeds
• Excellent thermal and electrical insulation
• Minimal thermal conductivity
• High purity, low outgassing in vacuum conditions in accordance
• Good machinability
• Good chemical resistance to acids, fats and solvents
• Highest flame retardant grade UL-94 V-0
• Irradiation resistance
• Aging resistance

Polyimide is ideal for electrical and thermal insulating applications. More ductile than ceramics, and lighter weight than metals. Polyimide is an excellent choice for structural parts in aerospace and other applications where metal replacement is desirable.

Polyimide sheet plate & Polyimide rod can be machined as wafer handling tools (wafer tips) IC Test Sockets & Probe Test Heads…

Description Grades of SNC Polyimide (PI)

PI-N, Natural (Unfilled) Polyimide, Highest elongation and purity.

PI-G15, Self-lubricating grade with 15% graphite filled.

Typical Applications of Polyimide

• Semiconductor Industry: semiconductor manufacturing process equipment with high purity, high resistance. Such as wafer clamping rings, wafer carries, wafer guides, wafer tips, die-pickup collets, vacuum pads, bearings, centering pins, alignment pins, insulators, screws & fasteners, Semicon Insulator Bushing，Plasma Torch Tips，IC Test Sockets & Nests
• Automotive industry: thrust washer or piston rings in transmission and pumps replacing traditional metals
• Aero space industry: Jet engine parts such as pads, bumpers, seals and bearings
• Industrial machinery: nozzle tip insulators for hot runner nozzles used for injection molding of thermoplastic products such as PET preforms, PET caps
• Polyimide in the glass industry. The use of polyimide can enhance productivity in the manufacture of glass bottles for container glass, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. Polyimide excellent temperature resistance and low thermal conductivity lend these high-performance plastics key benefits, particularly for hot-glass handling, compared to components made of graphite. They also help extend the service life of components and improve the rate of the production. In addition, Polyimide materials are economical to process, making them an ever more popular alternative for the production of take-out inserts and bottle grippers.

Machining of Polyimide 

Polyimide offers ease of machining and tight tolerances due to its inherent mechanical strength, stiffness and dimensional stability. Machining Polyimide isn’t too different from machining metals as a result of this; pretend you’re machining brass. Unlike metal, though, Polyimide (like all thermoplastics) will deform if you hold it too tightly.

We generally recommend Tungsten Carbide Alloy Tooling, although we recommend diamond tooling for large volume runs or work requiring close tolerances. Be wary of overheating Polyimide when you machine it. It shouldn’t become so hot that you can’t grasp it with your bare hands.

Polyimide Material Datasheet   

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