Kapton / polyimide film is a brand name owned by DuPont, and is a non-thermoplastic polyimide film.
It has a dark yellow color and withstands extremely high temperatures, ranging from -436°F to +752°F, making it extremely versatile.
Kapton / polyimide film does not melt and has a low coefficient of linear expansion, typically 20 parts per million per °F, based on test values from -14°F to +100°F.
You cannot heat-seal the film, but you can bond it to other surfaces with a specially prepared surface.
Industries using this film include mechanical and electronic parts. Space exploration components also use Kapton. More common applications include pressure-sensitive tape and fiber optic cable.
Automotive diaphragm sensors and manifolds also use Kapton. It serves well as a non-stick heat barrier for producing PTFE belts.
These belts require hot platens to thermally bond two layers of PTFE-coated glass cloth together. Kapton acts as an ideal barrier between the hot aluminum platen and the PTFE, protecting the PTFE from damage.
Manufacturers create the polyimide film by casting. This process involves pouring a semi-liquid solution onto a high-gloss surface, then curing it. After curing, they carefully peel away the thin layer (film) and batch it into a roll.
You can create self-adhesive tapes from the film by preparing the surface with a chemical etch. An adhesive bonds to the etched surface, and the tape is supplied in a slit roll form.
