What Is Polyimide Tape?
Polyimide tape is a flexible, durable, and waterproof tape commonly used in the electrical trade. It’s a must-have tool in any electrician’s toolkit. It’s famous for its tenacity, gold and amber colour, and unrivalled strength.
Polyimide tape is one of the most heat-resistant adhesives available. It maintains maximum adhesion over a wide temperature range and does not weaken with time. Polyimide tape isn’t affected by high temperatures, and it’s simple to remove with no leftover residue.
In addition, polyimide tape is highly chemically resistant and thermally insulating. It maintains an even temperature for electrical components and is unaffected by acids or oils. Polyimide tape is widely used in the aerospace and medical industries because it prevents electronics from catching fire or dropping below required temperatures.
Where Does Polyimide Tape Come Into Use?
Many industries use polyimide tape for its high strength and heat resistance. Some of the most frequent uses for polyimide tape include:
- Electricians
- Automotive Technicians
- People in the construction industry
- Companies that use 3D printers
- Spacecraft manufacturers
- Across the board, manufacturing industries are declining.
- The aeroplane industry
Using polyimide tape in any field that heavily utilises electronics would be beneficial. It’s used for various things, including insulation and chemical resistance. Polyimide tape is, nevertheless, viral in a variety of sectors.
Why Is Polyimide Such A Good Tape?
The secret to polyimide’s robustness lies in the material it is composed of – polyimide.
It’s a polymer composed of imide monomers. To be precise, an imide is a pair of acyls linked to nitrogen together. A monomer is a chemical that combines with other monomers to form a polymer chain via polymerisation, which is the process of polymerising.
Polyimides have been produced on a commercial scale since 1955. Polyimides are the only polymers that resist heat as well as other polymers. They’re heat-resistant, flexible, and robust.
Polyimide is also famous owing to the many shapes it may be formed into. It’s not only coated but also wire-reinforced, laminated, and formed by a punch. This means that you may mould it into any form you choose, increasing its usefulness across many sectors.
Although polyimide is a fantastic heat barrier, it can still catch fire. However, how it burns makes it even more appealing to specific sectors.
It is self-extinguishing and thus nonharmful. It tapers off, leaving only the surface layer of the tape charred if it catches fire. Polyimide is extremely unlikely to catch fire in the first place, but it will burn out quickly if it does. It’s considerably safer than other alternatives due to its high flammability.
The Dimensions of Polyimide Tape
Let’s take a look at some of polyimide tape’s technical details.
A polyimide tape with a liner thickness of 0.1mm has an overall thickness of about 0.095mm, and without the liner, it is around 0.1mm thick. This is one of the thinnest insulators ever made.
According to the manufacturer, the tape has a yield strength of 200 kPa and dielectric strength of 6.5 kV. It has a solid adhesive thanks to a silicone solution. The adhesion is about 6N.
Polyimide tape’s shelf life is also quite long. When stored correctly, it has a shelf life of roughly 36 months.
What Is Kapton Tape?
The company’s Kapton tape is a polyimide tape explicitly developed by the firm. It was created in the 1960s after other types of polyimide tapes began to be widely used.
Defined, Kapton tape is a polyimide tape branded under Kapton. Kapton tape is a variant of polyimide tape, but it isn’t the only one available. However, it is most likely the most frequently seen type in sectors worldwide.
The hydrogen bonds between Kapton and the polar solvents used in its creation are pretty strong. This process begins with a reaction conducted at temperatures up to 300°C, which transforms the mixture’s components. Like other polyimide tapes, Kapton tape is used for insulation, chemical resistance, and heat management.
Kapton tape is a type of polyimide tape that has been trademarked.
What Differences Kapton Tape from The Rest?
All the same, factors that distinguish polyimide tape make Kapton tape unique. It’s heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, sturdy, and available in fragile sheets. Kapton tape is also ideal for high-vacuum applications since it has excellent electrical insulation, low outgassing, and isn’t flammable (compared to Teflon), making it perfect for space missions.
Kapton tape’s adhesion properties are excellent, and it leaves no residue when removed. Its hardness makes it difficult to pierce, and it can adhere to surfaces that other tapes and adhesives can’t. The applicator’s work is much easier when slight pressure is required for a decent stick.
Single-sided Kapton tape is available, as well as double-sided. The adaptability of the design makes it even more versatile. Kapton tape comes in various forms and sizes, making it ideal for a wide range of applications.
How Heat Resistant Is Kapton Tape exactly?
Kapton tape is one of the most heat-resistant tapes available. But how strong is it, exactly?
Kapton tape is ideal for temperatures down to -75°C and up to +260°C. On the other hand, this tape has been evaluated and functioned at much higher temperatures. Kapton tape can withstand temperatures as low as -196 degrees Celsius and as high as 400 degrees Celsius!
It’s perfect for temperatures between 0°F and 140°F, although it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and whoever is in command. Even the most well-intentioned individuals can make mistakes. Whatever you do, there’s always a chance of failure.
What Does Kapton Tape Mean By Chemically Resistant?
Additionally, because Kapton tape has such excellent chemical resistance, it is trendy.
Unlike other insulators and tapes, Kapton tape does not dissolve or become obsolete when exposed to pollutants. Kapton tape is resistant to a wide range of oil, solvents, and acids. It is not affected by chemicals in terms of adhesiveness and insulation.
Kapton Tape: A Few Interesting Applications
We’ve addressed a few industries that could benefit from Kapton tape, but it’s worth noting some of the more particular applications for the video. Here’s a closer look at the applications of polyimide tapes, including Kapton tape.
General Electrical Industry
Kapton tape is used in various industries, including automobiles, aerospace, and even prosthetics. The majority of the time, it’s used as insulation. It also includes electrical insulation, including capacitors, transformers, and coils. It may also be utilised as a temperature mask throughout powder coatings.
A variety of anti-static polyimide tapes may be found on the market. It’s utilised to fabricate circuit boards and in other circumstances when a lot of static electricity is required.
The Auto Industry
Many vehicle producers use Kapton tape for both insulation and general heat resistance.
Seat heaters that use polyimide tape include sensors, diaphragm, coil, and switch covers. It inhibits fires by ensuring that the seat heaters maintain a consistent temperature and don’t cause them.
The Aircraft Industry
Kapton tape is a high-performance, low-friction thermoplastic frequently employed in military and commercial aircraft production.
The aircraft sector prefers Kapton tape for its heat resistance, toughness, and weight. It’s critical to reduce the importance of building materials while constructing an aircraft. Another advantage of Kapton tape is that it does not add significant weight to the airframe.
Kapton insulated wiring, however, is being phased out by many aircraft manufacturers in favour of various forms of Kapton tape. In humid conditions, Kapton insulation wiring deteriorates rapidly. By this stage, the strain had been broken. Resistance gradually wears down, and it becomes a fire risk at some point.
3D Printing
Kapton tape is frequently used when 3D printing objects.
Kapton tape is laid out over the printing surface of the 3D printer to ensure the printed object doesn’t shift around during the process. When the object moves around, it can lead to unsuccessful and deformed prints.
Kapton and ABS, the material used in 3D printing, adhere together unlike anything else. This has made Kapton tape a must-use in 3D printer manufacturing.
X-Rays
Kapton is often utilised in the X-ray window.
Kapton is a highly radiation-resistant compound. It is highly resistant to heat and chemical attacks. Kapton’s effects of radiation are very minimal. It’s capable of withstanding high X-ray heat while allowing the X-rays to pass through it. Kapton may be utilised in X-ray tubes and synchrotron light lines.
The Space Industry
Kapton is utilised in spacecraft to keep various systems functioning consistently.
It’s is often used on space probes to keep them cool between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius. Kapton allowed the ship to reach Pluto and back, 3 billion miles. It’s also great for ensuring the electronic temperatures don’t fluctuate or drop, allowing you to use your device worry-free.
