What Is Polyimide Tubing?
Polyimide Tubing is a tubing that has excellent heat and cold resistance. Some tubing is made of polyimide film that is wrapped and bonded together, but if it is made seamless, it is unaffected by the adhesive and exhibits full heat resistance.
Its special multiple construction makes it resistant to impact and bending, and there is no risk of tearing. Tubes can be made with an inner diameter of 0.08 mm and a thickness of 0.013 mm, even ultra-fine and ultra-thin.
Those with a larger inner diameter are called tube belts. It can be bonded with most adhesives and has good workability characteristics.
Applications for Polyimide Tubing
Typical applications include conductor sleeves and insulators for electronic components, medical catheters and infusion tubes for analyzers in medical applications, and optical fiber coatings in other applications. It is also used for temperature sensors, heating elements, and lead wires. Tube belts are used in the drive mechanisms of office automation equipment and precision instruments due to their smooth surfaces and precise dimensions.
Tube belts are available in a wide range of diameters, from ultra-thin to large, depending on the application. Special processing such as holes, grooves, and tapering may also be applied.
Principle of Polyimide Tubing
With its extremely strong molecular structure, polyimide is a material that can withstand temperatures from -269°C to 400°C and has excellent electrical properties such as high insulation, low dielectric constant and body dielectric loss, as well as chemical and radiation resistance. It is yellow to orange in color due to the formation of intra- and intermolecular charge transfer complexes based on the polarization of the imide ring.
The main chain structure consists mainly of aromatic rings (benzene and imide rings), which means that there are few single bonds that can rotate freely and few conformational changes. It is very rigid, which means it has a higher glass transition temperature and melting point. Intermolecular interactions also contribute to the high and low glass transition temperatures of polyimides, which tend to decrease as the molecular symmetry decreases and the structure shifts from a linear structure.
Depending on the application, the tubing is often processed with substituents to enhance or impart properties, or the tubing is physically processed. For example, when used in medical catheters, the coefficient of friction is lowered to allow work with very thin tubing and to reduce surface resistance. When combined with resins other than polyimide in a layered configuration, sliding properties are improved.
Types of Polyimide Tubing
1. Heat-Resistant Polyimide Tubing
Heat-resistant Polyimide Tubing is a polyimide resin-based tubing with properties to withstand high temperatures. Typical heat resistance temperatures are 200°C or higher, with some products exhibiting heat resistance of 300°C or higher.
They are widely used as electrical insulators and heat-resistant parts in high-temperature environments, such as engine parts, heaters, insulating coils for electric motors, and parts for the aerospace industry. In particular, it is often used in environments exposed to high temperatures, such as aircraft, space equipment, and automobiles.
2. High Strength Polyimide Tubing
High-strength Polyimide Tubing has strong mechanical properties and excellent durability. Because of the high strength of polyimide’s polymeric structure, it is commonly used in structural applications and for components with complex geometries.
In the construction industry, high-strength Polyimide Tubing is used as building insulation, and in the automotive industry it is applied to engine parts, gears, bearings, and gears. Their robustness and durability make them suitable for use in harsh conditions.
3. Electrically Insulated Polyimide Tubing
Electrically insulating Polyimide Tubing is used as an insulating material for electrical components and wiring because of its excellent electrical insulation properties. Polyimide’s high insulating properties do not impede the flow of electrical signals and can provide safe and reliable electrical insulation.
It is used in high-voltage and high-frequency electrical equipment, electric motors, transformers, and solar panels. It is especially widely used in industrial fields where high performance electrical insulation is required.
4. Water-Absorbent Polyimide Tubing
Water absorbent Polyimide Tubing has the property of efficiently absorbing water through a special process. This property allows it to contain and release water.
Because it efficiently absorbs dirt, grease, and oil, it is very useful as a cleaning product in kitchens and automobiles. Water absorbent Polyimide Tubing also dries quickly when flooded. Therefore, it dries quickly and can be reused after containing water.