Polyimide Sheets | Vespel Sheets

Available sizes of Polyimide Sheets

Vespel SP-1(Nature PI) Polyimide sheets

• Composition: Unfilled vespel plastic sheet.
• Properties: Insulating properties over a low to 300°C operating temperature range, with excellent abrasion resistance. Both of these have low electrical conductivity and the highest elongation and purity.
• Applications: Especially for nonlubricated conditions, environments requiring high strength and wear resistance
• The basic materials of SP-1 emphasize mechanical strength and insulation performance.

Graphite filled Polyimide (PI) sheets, Vespel SP 21

• Composition: Filled with 15% graphite vespel plastic sheet.
• Properties: SP-1 offers better dimensional stability, lower coefficient of friction, and better wear resistance than SP-21. It is well suited for application in lubricated or nonlubricated environments.
• Applications: This vespel plastic sheet is especially suitable for environments requiring low friction and high wear resistance, such as seals, bearings, etc.
• SP-21's graphite filling improves its wear resistance and low friction attributes, making it better suited for use where higher lubrication service is required.

Each of these two vespel plastic sheets has obvious advantages, and different applications have particular needs, so it’s best to apply selection criteria accordingly.

Processing of Polyimide Sheets

1. Machining: Cutting, drilling, etc., can be done with conventional lathes and milling machines, but you have to use the right tools; otherwise, the material can overheat.
2. Laser cutting: If the shapes are too complex, laser cutting can be used to assure cutting accuracy.
3. Heat treatment: Heat treatment can also be done to enhance material properties.

PI plastic sheets Disadvantages

1. High cost: The relatively high production cost of polyimide Plaque limits their use in applications where other materials may be more economical and practical.
2. Processing difficulty: Polyimide sheets is very difficult to handle in mechanical processing, which has special mechanical equipment and Technologies, and conventional tools may not be effective in processing, hence low processing efficiency.
3. Poor hydrolysis resistance: Hydrolytic tolerance of polyimide plaque varieties is poor and long-term contact with humidity can lead to performance degradation.
4. Brittleness: In low temperature/high temperature and extreme conditions, the polyimide plaque can be brittle and easy to break.
5. Intolerant to strong alkalis: Polyimide sheets possesses good tolerance to general acids and organic solvents but poor tolerance to strong alkalis and is therefore not suitable for some chemical environments.

Storage of Polyimide Plastic sheets

1. To avoid moisture and extreme temperatures, Keep it in a dry, cool place away from sunlight.
2. Prevent physical damage: Do not store under heavy pressure or collision that would deform or damage material.
3. Keep clean: Dust or chemical contamination of the storage environment should be checked regularly.
   Processing methods.

Polyimide Material Data Sheet