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Properties Of Kapton® Polyimide Film

 

Kapton® polyimide film possesses a unique combination of properties that make it ideal for a variety of applications in many different industries. The ability of Kapton® to maintain its excellent physical, electrical, and mechanical properties over a wide temperature range has opened new design and application areas to plastic films.

Kapton® is synthesized by polymerizing an aromatic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine. It has excellent chemical resistance; there are no known organic solvents for the film. Kapton® does not melt or burn as it has the highest UL-94 flammability rating: V-0. The outstanding properties of Kapton® permit it to be used at both high and low temperature extremes where other organic polymeric materials would not be functional.

Adhesives are available for bonding Kapton® to itself and to metals, various paper types, and other films.

Kapton® polyimide film can be used in a variety of electrical and electronic insulation applications: wire and cable tapes, formed coil insulation, substrates for flexible printed circuits, motor slot liners, magnet wire insulation, transformer and capacitor insulation, magnetic and pressure-sensitive tapes, and tubing. Many of these applications are based on the excellent balance of electrical, thermal, mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of Kapton® over a wide range of temperatures. It is this combination of useful properties at temperature extremes that makes Kapton® a unique industrial material.


Kapton® withstands the harsh chemical and physical demands on diaphragms used in automotive switches.

Kapton® is used in numerous electronic applications, including hard disk drives.

Three types of Kapton® are described here ::

  • Kapton® Type HN, all-polyimide film, has been used successfully in applications at temperatures as low as -269°C (- 452°F) and as high as 400°C (752°F).

    Type HN film can be laminated, metallized, punched, formed, or adhesive coated. It is available as 7.5 µm (0.3 mil), 12.5 µm (0.5 mil), 19 µm (0.75 mil), 25 µm (1 mil), 50 µm (2 mil), 75 µm (3 mil), and 125 µm (5 mil) films.

  • Kapton® Type VN, all-polyimide film with all of the properties of Type HN, plus superior dimensional stability. Type VN is available as 12.5 µm (0.5 mil), 19 µm (0.75 mil), 25 µm (1 mil), 50 µm (2 mil), 75 µm (3 mil), and 125 µm (5 mil) films.
  • Kapton® Type FN, a Type HN film coated on one or both sides with Teflon® FEP fluoropolymer resin, imparts heat sealability, provides a moisture barrier, and enhances chemical resistance. Type FN is available in a number of combinations of polyimide and Teflon® FEP thicknesses.

Note: In addition to these three types of Kapton®, films are available with the following attributes:

  • antistat
  • thermally conductive
  • polyimides for fine line circuitry
  • cryogenic insulation
  • corona resistant
  • pigmented for color
  • conformable
  • other films tailored to meet customers' needs

 

The Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number for Kapton® polyimide film is [25036-53-7].

The information give herein is based on data believed to be reliable, but DuPont makes no warranties express or implied as to its accuracy and assumes no liability arising out of its use by others. This publication is not to be taken as a license to operate under, or recommendation to infringe, any patent.

Caution: Do not use in medical applications involving permanent implantation in the human body. For other medical applications, see "DuPont Medical Caution Statement", H-50102.


                


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