Plastic Machining Inc. has extensive experience in machining polyimide parts and can make them to your specifications or help you design parts to fit your needs. Processing and machining of polyimide parts takes place in a completely controlled environment, and complete records of our products are maintained. Excellence is built into every part that we machine.

Polyimide is a high-performance polymer that offers excellent strength, chemical resistance, and thermal stability. This material is common in the aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries for its unique properties.

At Plastic Machining Inc., we have advanced technology and expertise to machine polyimide parts with precision and accuracy. Our team of engineers has extensive knowledge and experience in working with this material, allowing us to meet your unique specifications or assist you in designing custom parts to fit your specific needs.

Keep browsing to learn more about machined polyimide parts or contact us at Plastic Machining Inc. to get started. Find out how our custom Polyimide parts can help make your manufacturing processes more effective and efficient.

Material Description

Vespel® is a high performance Polyimide material which is formed from resin manufactured only by DuPont.  Polyimide materials are characterized by a ring-shaped molecular structure containing Nitrogen.  Vespel® is one of the highest performing engineering plastics currently available.  Vespel® will not melt and can operate continuously from cryogenic temperatures to 550°F (288°C), with excursions to 900°F (482°C). Vespel® parts consistently exhibit superior performance in a variety of applications requiring low wear and long life in severe.

Notable Material Features

  • Excellent temperature resistance
  • High wear resistance (especially SP-21)
  • Dimensionally stable
  • Resistant to radiation
  • Extremely low out gassing
  • Relatively easy to machine

Grades of Vespel®

Vespel® (SP-1)

Vespel® SP-1 is the unfilled base resin grade.  Vespel® SP-1 provides maximum physical strength, elongation, and toughness, as well as the best electrical and thermal insulation values.  Typical applications include spacers, high-temp fixtures, valve seats, balls, gaskets, insulators, and seals.

Vespel® (SP-21)

Vespel® SP-21 has 15% graphite by weight added to the base resin.  Vespel® SP-21 has increased wear resistance and reduced friction in applications such as bearings, thrust washers, bushings, seal rings, slide blocks, and other wear applications.  Vespel® SP-21 has the highest mechanical properties of the graphite filled grades.

Vespel® (SP-22)

Vespel® SP-22 has 40% graphite by weight.  Vespel® SP-22 has enhanced wear resistance, lower friction, improved dimensional stability (low coefficient of thermal expansion), and improved stability against oxidation.  Typical uses are the same as those for Vespel® SP-21.

Vespel® (SP-211)

Vespel® SP-21 has 10% PTFE and 15% graphite by weight added to the base resin for the lowest coefficient of friction over a wide range of operating conditions.  It also has excellent wear resistance up to 300°F (149°C).  Typical applications include sliding bearings, linear bearings, and many of the wear and friction uses listed above.

Vespel® (SP-3)

Vespel® SP-3 is 15% molybdenum disulfide solid lubricant filled for wear and friction resistance in vacuum and other moisture-free where graphite actually becomes abrasive. Typical applications include seals, bushings, bearings, gears, and other wear surfaces in outer space, ultra-high vacuum, and dry gas applications.

Some of the Polyimide parts we machine are:

  • Back-up Rings
  • Balls
  • Blocks
  • Bushings
  • Cams
  • Caps
  • Guides
  • Medical Parts
  • Nozzles
  • Pads
  • Parts
  • Plugs
  • Rings
  • Rods
  • Rollers
  • Seals
  • Semiconductor Parts
  • Sheaves
  • Spacers
  • Supports
  • Valve Seats
  • Washers
  • Wear Pads

Vespel® is a registered trademark of DuPont.