Vespel ® Polyimide Specifications
 Vespel Product Feature
GENERAL PROPERTIES
 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 environments.
VESPEL ® FEATURES
• Excellent temperature resistance • High wear resistance
(especially SP-21) • Dimensionally stable • Resistant to radiation
• Extremely low outgassing • Relatively easy to machine
VESPEL ® APPLICATIONS
• Rotary seal rings • Thrust washers and discs • Bushings
• Flanged bearings • Plungers • Printer wire guides • Spline
couplings • Wear strips • Valve seats • Thermal and electrical
insulators • Wafer clamping, polishing and grinding rings •
Wafer guides & carriers • Vacuum pads • Die pickup collets
VESPEL ® GRADES
Vespel ® SP-1
Vespel ® SP-1 is the unfilled base
resin grade. 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 for increased wear resistance
and reduced friction in applications such as bearings, thrust
washers, bushings, seal rings, slide blocks and other wear applications.
SP-21 has the highest mechanical properties of the graphite
filled grades.
Vespel ® SP-22
Vespel ® SP-22 has 40% graphite by
weight for enhanced wear resistance, lower friction, improved
dimensional stability (low coefficient of thermal expansion),
and stability against oxidation. Typical uses are the same as
those for SP-21.
Vespel ® SP-211
Vespel ® SP-211 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 or linear bearings as well as many wear and
friction uses listed above.
Vespel ® SP-3
Vespel ® SP-3 is 15% moly-filled (molybdenum
disulfide solid lubricant) for wear and friction resistance
in vacuum and other moisture-free environments where graphite
actually becomes abrasive. Typical applications include seals,
bushings, bearings, gears, and other wear surfaces in outer
space, ultra-high vacuum or dry gas applications.
| TYPICAL PROPERTIES of VESPEL
® |
| ASTM or UL test |
Property |
SP-1 |
SP-21 |
SP-22 |
SP-211 |
SP-3 |
| - |
Filler Material |
Unfilled |
15% Graphite |
40% Graphite |
10% PTFE,
15% Graphite |
15% Moly |
| PHYSICAL
|
| D792 |
Density (lb/in³)
(g/cm³) |
0.051
1.43 |
0.055
1.51 |
0.060
1.65 |
0.056
1.55 |
0.058
1.60 |
| D570 |
Water Absorption, 24 hrs @ 73°F (%)
48 hrs @ 122°F (%) |
0.24
0.72 |
0.19
0.57 |
0.14
0.42 |
0.21
0.49 |
0.23
0.65 |
| MECHANICAL
|
| D638 |
Tensile Strength, Ultimate @ 73°F (psi)
@ 500°F (psi) |
12,500
6,000 |
9,500
5,500 |
7,500
3,400 |
6,500
3,500 |
8,200
- |
| D638 |
Tensile Modulus (psi) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| D638 |
Tensile Elongation, Ultimate @ 73°F (%)
@ 500°F (%) |
7.5
6.0 |
4.5
6.0 |
3.0
2.0 |
3.5
3.0 |
4.0
- |
| D790 |
Flexural Strength, Ultimate @ 73°F (psi)
@ 500°F (psi) |
16,000
9,000 |
16,000
9,000 |
13,000
6,500 |
10,000
5,000 |
11,000
5,500 |
| D790 |
Flexural Modulus @ 73°F (psi)
@ 500°F (psi) |
450,000
250,000 |
550,000
370,000 |
700,000
400,000 |
450,000
200,000 |
475,000
270,000 |
| D695 |
Compressive Strength, 10% strain @ 73°F
(psi) |
19,300 |
19,300 |
16,300 |
14,800 |
18,500 |
| D695 |
Compressive Modulus (psi) |
350,000 |
420,000 |
475,000 |
300,000 |
350,000 |
| D785 |
Hardness, Rockwell |
E45-60 |
E25-45 |
E5-25 |
E1-20 |
E40-55 |
| D256 |
IZOD Notched Impact (ft-lb/in) |
0.8 |
0.8 |
- |
- |
0.4 |
|
Poisson's Ratio |
0.4 |
0.4 |
- |
- |
- |
| THERMAL
|
| D696 |
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion
(x 10 -5 in./in./°F) |
3.0 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
| D648 |
Heat Deflection Temp (°F / °C)
at 264 psi |
680 / 360 |
680 / 360 |
- |
- |
- |
| - |
Max Continuous Operating Temp (°F / °C) |
500 / 260 |
500 / 260 |
500 / 260 |
500 / 260 |
500 / 260 |
| C177 |
Thermal Conductivity
(BTU-in/ft²-hr-°F)
(x 10 -4 cal/cm-sec-°C) |
2.0
6.9 |
6.0
20.7 |
12.0
41.3 |
5.3
18.3 |
3.2
11.0 |
| UL94 |
Flammability Rating |
V-0 |
V-0 |
V-0 |
V-0 |
V-0 |
| ELECTRICAL
|
| D149 |
Dielectric Strength (V/mil) short time,
1/8" thick |
560 |
250 |
- |
- |
- |
| D150 |
Dielectric Constant at 1 MHz |
3.55 |
13.2 |
- |
- |
- |
| D150 |
Dissipation Factor at 1 MHz |
0.0034 |
0.0106 |
- |
- |
- |
| D257 |
Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm)at 50% RH |
10 14
- 10 15 |
10 12
- 10 13 |
- |
- |
- |
NOTE: The information contained herein are typical values intended
for reference and comparison purposes only. They should NOT
be used as a basis for design specifications or quality control.
Contact us for manufacturers' complete material property datasheets.
All values at 73°F (23°C) unless otherwise noted
VESPEL is a registered trademark of DuPont
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