The Versatility and Applications of Polyimide Film in Advanced R&D

Polyimide film is a vital material in cutting-edge research and development due to its outstanding thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical robustness. Its unique properties make it indispensable in various high-tech industries, including aerospace, electronics, and automotive sectors, where it is used in flexible circuits, insulating tapes, and high-temperature fuel cells.

Advent Research Materials provide a diverse range of polyimide films, ensuring tailored solutions for different R&D needs, including films of varying thicknesses and specifications, designed to withstand extreme conditions and maintain performance integrity over time.

Why Polyimide Film?

• Thermal Stability: Polyimide films maintain their structural integrity even at temperatures exceeding 400°C, making them ideal for environments where heat resistance is critical.
  • ​High-Temperature Resistance: Polyimide films can withstand extremely high temperatures, often up to 400°C (752°F) for short periods and around 250-300°C (482-572°F) for continuous use.
  • Low-Temperature Performance: Polyimide films remain flexible and functional at temperatures as low as -269°C (-452°F), making them suitable for a wide range of applications.

• Chemical Resistance: These films resist solvents, acids, and bases, allowing them to perform reliably in chemically harsh conditions.
  • Chemical Inertness: Polyimide films are highly resistant to most chemicals, including solvents, oils, and acids. This makes them durable in harsh environments.
  • Hydrolytic Stability: They exhibit good resistance to moisture and do not easily degrade in humid conditions, which is crucial for maintaining insulation properties over time.

• Mechanical Strength: Despite their thin profile, polyimide films are incredibly durable, offering high tensile strength and flexibility, essential for applications like flexible electronics and insulation. 
  • High Tensile Strength: Polyimide films have a tensile strength typically in the range of 150 to 200 MPa, which provides them with strong mechanical resilience.
  • Flexibility: Despite their strength, polyimide films are flexible and can be used in applications requiring thin, bendable materials.

• Electrical Properties
  • Dielectric Strength: Polyimide films exhibit a high dielectric strength, typically in the range of 200 to 400 kV/mm, which makes them excellent insulators.
  • Low Dielectric Constant: The dielectric constant of polyimide films is generally around 3.4 to 3.5 at 1 kHz, allowing them to efficiently insulate electrical components.

Key Applications

• Flexible Electronics: Polyimide films are used as substrates in flexible printed circuits, where they provide a robust yet flexible base that withstands bending and folding without losing functionality. For example, in a laptop computer, the cable that connects the main logic board to the display (which must flex every time the laptop is opened or closed) is often a polyimide base with copper conductors. In semiconductor manufacturing, polyimide film serves as a foundational material for creating flexible circuits and acts as a protective layer throughout the fabrication process. Its resilience against harsh chemicals and high temperatures helps maintain the integrity of sensitive semiconductor components.

• Aerospace: In aerospace design, every gram counts. Due to their lightweight nature and high resistance to temperature and radiation, polyimide films are used in space and air craft insulation and various aerospace components. Multi-layer insulation used on spacecraft is usually made of polyimide coated with thin layers of aluminum, silver, gold, or germanium. The gold-colored material often seen on the outside of spacecraft is typically actually single aluminized polyimide, with the single layer of aluminum facing in. The yellowish-brown polyimide gives the surface its gold-like color. Its lightweight nature and excellent dielectric properties make it suitable for use in the confined spaces of aircraft and spacecraft.

• Automotive: In the automotive industry, these films are integral to high-temperature insulating tapes, pressure-sensitive tapes, and gaskets. Polyimide film is utilised in the manufacturing of sensors that monitor various parameters in vehicles, including temperature and pressure. Its stability and chemical resistance contribute to the long-term reliability of these sensors. Electric vehicles (EVs) benefit significantly from polyimide film's excellent insulating properties. This material is used to insulate battery cells and modules, which enhances the safety and overall performance of EV batteries.

Advent Research Materials supplies polyimide films tailored to the precise needs of R&D projects.

Our product range supports innovation in various fields, providing reliable materials that meet the rigorous demands of advanced research and industrial applications.

For more detailed information on available products and to explore the specific polyimide films that Advent Research Materials offers, visit our Polyimide Products Page.