Thermoplastics are important to many engineering applications. For this reason, it is important that high-performance materials are utilized to ensure quality, durability, and safety. An example of a very common and durable high-performance polymide-based plastic is Vespel. It has a high resistance to heat, dimensional stability, creep resistance, chemical resistance, and lubricity. It is designed to be utilized in extreme environments and hostile conditions.
However, Vespel is not the only material available. In fact, today, Celazole PBI is the highest performance engineering thermoplastic available. It provides the highest heat deflection temperature of 800° F, and highest mechanical property retention of any plastic more than 400° F. Moreover, its load carrying abilities at tremendous temperatures and wear resistance is more enhanced than other reinforced or unreinforced engineering plastics.
Some examples where Celazole has been used to replace Vespel for a better result include: high heat insulator brushings, ball valve seats, electrical connectors, and clamp rings. This is because it is an outstanding thermal insulator, and when other plastics are in a melting phase they don’t stick to PBI. Furthermore, it has amazing ultrasonic transparency. These attributes make this material ideal for insulator brushings in plastic manufacturing, molding equipment, contact seals, and semiconductor manufacturers find it highly attractive for vacuum chamber applications.