'Kapton' Polyimide Film: A Thin Wall High-Temperature Insulation for Wire and Cable

摘要

'Kapton' polyimide film, formerly called H Film, is a new high-temperature film which has an outstanding and unique combination of electrical, mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. Because of its unusual properties 'Kapton' offers the opportunity for a wide variety of new insulation constructions both by itself and in combination with other materials. It should also provide solutions to many difficult problems where present insulating materials are not satisfactory. In aircraft, missile and space vehicles weight and thinness of insulation are extremely important. Because of its toughness and unusual properties 'Kapton' can be used in much thinner sections or layers than most high-temperature insulating materials and therefore is of intense interest to engineers who are concerned with saving space and weight without sacrificing reliability and ultimate performance. High temperature, thin wall insulation of wire and cable has been one of the major uses of 'Kapton' to date. Chemically, 'Kapton' is an aromatic polyimide resulting from the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine. Its unusual properties are due both to its highly aromatic character and special processing conditions. (Author)