Vespel® Characteristics
Vespel® is a high-performance polyimide-based plastic material with notable characteristics: it withstands wide temperature ranges; it is wear and chemical resistant; it has excellent mechanical and insulation properties; it has natural lubricity; and unlike most polymers, it does not produce significant outgassing even at high temperatures.
Vespel® does not melt at any temperature. As a result, it is used in many aerospace, semiconductor and transportation applications.
- Withstands temperatures up to 550° F
- Excellent mechanical strength and stiffness
- Ultra low outgassing
- Natural lubricity
- Does not melt at any temperature
- Good wear and chemical resistance
Applications for Vespel®
- Bearings, washers and seal rings
- Seals and insulators
- Semiconductor clamping rings and screws
- Ball seal valves and compressor applications
| Property | Metric | units | English | units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | ||||||
| Density | 1.33e3 - 1.43e3 | kg/m^3 | 0.048 - 0.0517 | lb/ft^3 | ||
| Mechanical | ||||||
| Yield Strength | 8.62e7 - 8.96e7 | Pa | 12.5 - 13 | ksi | ||
| Tensile Strength | 7.24e7 - 1.18e8 | Pa | 10.5 - 17.1 | ksi | ||
| Elongation | 0.075 - 0.9 | % strain | 7.5 - 90 | % strain | ||
| Hardness (Vickers) | 2.54e8 - 2.64e8 | Pa | 25.9 - 26.9 | HV | ||
| Impact Strength (un-notched) | 7.9e3 - 9e3 | J/m^2 | 3.76 - 4.28 | ft.lbf/in^2 | ||
| Fracture Toughness | 2.16e6 - 6.4e6 | Pa/m^0.5 | 1.97 - 5.82 | ksi/in^0.5 | ||
| Young's Modulus | 2.07e9 - 2.76e9 | Pa | 0.3 - 0.4 | 10^6 psi | ||
| Thermal | ||||||
| Max Service Temperature | 221 - 241 | °C | 430 - 466 | °F | ||
| Melting Temperature | 375 - 401 | °C | 707 - 754 | °F | ||
| Insulator or Conductor | Insulator | Insulator | ||||
| Specific Heat Capability | 1.39e3 - 1.45e3 | J/kg °C | 0.333 - 0.346 | BTU/lb. °F | ||
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 8.1e-5 - 1.01e-4 | strain/°C | 45 - 56 | µstrain/°F | ||
| Eco | ||||||
| CO2 Footprint | 9.08 - 10 | kg/kg | 9.08 - 10 | lb/lb | ||
| Recyclable | Yes | Yes |
