Polyetherimide (PEI) is an amorphous high-performance thermoplastic known for its excellent thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. It has a high glass transition temperature of approximately 215–220 °C, enabling continuous use at elevated temperatures with good dimensional stability.
PEI exhibits high stiffness and strength, maintains mechanical performance under heat, and offers low creep behavior. It is inherently flame resistant and typically achieves UL 94 V-0 ratings without flame-retardant additives, while also generating low smoke during combustion.
The material provides very good electrical insulation properties over a wide temperature range and good chemical resistance to many oils, hydrocarbons, and cleaning agents. Depending on grade, PEI can withstand repeated sterilization processes.
PEI can be processed by injection molding and extrusion, requiring high processing temperatures and thorough pre-drying. Its balanced performance profile makes it suitable for demanding applications in electrical and electronics, automotive, aerospace, industrial, and medical sectors.
- Injection molding: Used to manufacture complex, high-precision parts with tight tolerances
- Color-matched grades available for aesthetic or identification purposes
- Maintains thermal, mechanical, and flame-retardant properties after coloration
- Extrusion: Applied to produce continuous profiles and semi-finished forms.
- Thermoforming: Forming of heated PEI sheets into three-dimensional components.
- Additive manufacturing (selected grades): High-temperature FDM/FFF printing for functional prototypes and low-volume parts.
- Thin films and thick sheets produced by extrusion
- Used for electrical insulation, protective layers, and thermoformed components
- Available in various thicknesses depending on application requirements
APPLICATIONS:
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Automotive
Electrical connectors
Components
Sensor housings
Structural parts
Actuators
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Electrical & Electronics
Connectors
Components
Coil formers
Sockets
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Aerospace
Insulation parts
Connectors
Interior components
Structural elements
