How Polyimide Material Help Advanced Engineering?

Discover how Polyimide is crucial in advanced engineering, offering unmatched thermal stability, chemical resistance, and versatility in complex designs.

Following advancement and increasing complexities in technologies and engineering, industries are more inclined towards exclusive materials like polyimide. Currently, the modern mechanisms of various machines now require parts and components of parts that perform superbly in thermal stability, toughness, chemical resistance, etc.

Polyimide fulfills all the high-performance requirements of the modern landscape of advanced engineering, where machines work rapidly and consistently. This article explores polyimide’s inherent properties, applications, potential usability, etc., to understand its importance.

Knowing Polyimide

Polyimide Material is a polymer of imide groups consisting of a solid group of two acyl groups chained with nitrogen. Most amazingly, due to its properties, polyimide can also act as a technical thermoplastic. Marston Taylor Bogert and Roemer Rex Renshaw invented this exclusive construction material in 1908. However, DuPont enhanced its modification to more excellent usability in the early 1960s.

Production Process

Production of polyimide involves two primary steps, each with several sub-steps. The first major step is the dianhydride and diamine monomers reaction in the presence of a solvent like N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, etc.

This process occurs at room temperature and produces polyamic acid, a linear polymer chain. The second major step is the thermal imidization of polyamic acid at a temperature between 200°C and 400°C.

Finally, cyclization and dehydration take place, forming polyimide. Due to its insolubility, it is generally kept as films, powder, etc., for molding into parts or components using polyimide.

Base Properties

Extreme thermal stability; above 500°C.
Tensile strength, yield – 15 MPa to 230 MPa.
Elongation at break ranges from 0.350 – 200 %.
High dielectric strength.
Provides excellent chemical resistance against various acids, solvents, and oils.
Polyimide showcases self-extinguishing behavior and good flame retardancy.

Core Applications

Based on the main chain constitution, there are generally three forms of Polyimide: Aromatic, Semi-Aromatic, and Aliphatic. All these are used in the industries listed below.

In the electrical engineering sector, it produces designed circuit boards, various insulations, etc. Due to its superb fire-resistance characteristics, it is also used in aircraft and spacecraft parts. Most importantly, it is used in the production of semiconductors.
In the automotive industry, polyimide produces gaskets, seals, and engine parts that function at high temperatures and experience wear. It is also used to manufacture electric vehicle battery cells. Polyimide is a vital material for automotive displays and infotainment systems.
Manufacturing of controlled-release drug delivery systems is the must-mention use of polyimide. It is also used in making catheters, stents, implants, etc., due to its respective sterilizability and biocompatibility.
Polyimide is also used in the production of industrial machines. It is used in machines that function in chemical plants, automotive parts manufacturing machines working in high temperatures, the 3D printing sector, and so on.
Parts in advanced engineering applications, such as fiber optics, sensors, solar panels, fuel cells, wind turbines, etc., require polyimide-triggered inclusion if quality and durability are needed.

5 Reasons: Why is Polyimide Essential for Advanced Engineering

The term advanced engineering refers to using the latest technologies, formulas, designs, etc., which make the machines functional in extreme conditions. In the case of cutting-edge engineering applications production, polyimide is essential for the reasons listed below.

1. Higher Thermal Stability

Polyimide-made parts or components can withstand high temperatures, a core requirement of advanced engineering parts. Polyimide’s low thermal expansion rate also makes it a core material for parts used in advanced engineering applications that perform under extreme temperatures, even above 400°C or 500°C.

2. Outstanding Mechanical Strength

Modern engineering applications in construction, aviation, etc., are designated to bear massive loads. Many parts need adequate mechanical strength in terms of higher load-bearing capacity, low wear and tear, high tensile strengths and modulus, excellent creep resistance, etc.

In this case, the exceptional mechanical strength of polyimide-made parts supports the effective functioning of the entire machine.

3. Superb Chemical Resistance

Advanced engineering applications and parts, such as semiconductors, downhole equipment, pipelines in oil extraction, membrane filtration systems, fuel system components, microfluidic devices, etc., consistently encounter various solvents.

Polyimide-made parts and components become vital in these applications due to their highly resistant characteristics against harsh chemicals, including strong acids, solvents, and oils.

4. Provides Insulations

Considering greater electrical insulation requirements by an advanced engineering application, the most mentioned are flexible printed circuits, smartphones, wearables, aerospace equipment, battery storage systems, power management systems, spacecraft wiring, aircraft parts, and many more.

Polyimide contributes to these applications with its low dielectric constant (3.0 — 4.0, dielectric loss ≈ 0.02) and high dielectric strength, providing superior insulation within the assembly.

5. Money Matters

All the base properties of polyimide signify that the parts or components of parts made of polyimide are highly durable. It facilitates a longer lifespan of the main modern engineering application.

The respective substantially lower rate of repair and replacement allows the respective company to save a huge sum in the long run.

Final Words

We hope our exploration of why polyimide is highly suitable for major parts and components of advanced engineering applications will benefit manufacturing industry professionals.

One last positive thing about this exceptional construction material is that it reduces the environmental impact by making advanced engineering applications durable, functional, and high-performing.

UVTECO is a leading supplier of Polyimide Material, including Polyimide Sheet, Polyimide Rod in China, meantime, we provide machining services for global clients. If you are looking for a trustworthy supplier of Polyimide Parts, contact us now!