VTEC™ Polyimide & Hybrid Polymers
VTEC, only from R. Blaine Industries, is the next quantum leap in advanced engineering polymers, delivering unparalleled and reliable long-term performance in the most demanding applications.
VTEC is available in several forms, liquids for coating and casting, solid stock shapes for machined parts, and powders or pellets for molding.
Our highest level grade, VTEC PI, is a virtually indestructible polymer. And it overcomes many of the limitations of traditional plastic materials. Our technological advances in polymer chemistry, have resulted in a truly superior polyimide with extraordinary qualities. VTEC should be considered in every application where Vespel and any other polyimide are options.
There are many other VTEC options. Economy grades and hybrid grades bridge the gap between traditional polyimides and all high performance polymers. Other unique VTEC grades include the world’s only amorphous liquid that remains flexible and ‘rubber-like’ after curing. It’s even FDA compliant for medical implant. Another is glass fiber reinforced grades, one which starts as a thermoplastic but becomes a true thermoset after post-bake when it will not remelt.
Although there are many standard VTEC grades available, custom VTEC formulations can be engineered based on your individual service and application needs. We have a full plastic development center staffed by polymer scientists ready to engineer a solution unique to you.
“We exposed samples of Kapton and VTEC (cast into films) to a continuous-wave 325nm laser and found that where the Kapton film would seemingly ‘bubble’ up / ablate / etch, nothing happened to the VTEC. We even decided to leave it under the laser for 2 hours and still there were no visible marks! Is this down to the thermal conductivity coefficient (which is several orders of magnitude lower than that of Kapton) or some other wonder of indestructibility? Cheers, DEW”
V is for VTEC polymers. They are truly Wonders of Indestructibility™.
Why VTEC?
Why should I engineer VTEC into my applications?
VTEC Polyimides offer an exceptional package of attributes, making them suitable for the most difficult application challenges. VTEC stands alone in the world of polymers with its combination of strength, stability, purity, thermal resistance, and electrical properties.
The flagship VTEC PI grade has no observable glass transition temperature or melting point below a decomposition temperature that is well in excess of 500°C (932°F). VTEC PI wears a groove in steel in a friction and wear test. It became known as “The Ceramic Plastic” when it was approved for medical implants. It’s heat resistant and incredibly tough, yet pure enough to implant.
Custom VTEC compounds can be engineered in our polymer R&D laboratory to meet your service needs. Options include custom polymer chemistries and fillers (glass, graphite, carbon, Teflon, MoS2, etc.) to enhance specific physical attributes.
VTEC™ Liquid Polyimides
VTEC Polyimide Liquids for Rapid Coating, Film Casting, Tubing and Adhesive Applications
R. Blaine Industries (RBI) offers an extensive line of VTEC liquid polyimides. The excellent mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of VTEC Polyimide are available in liquid form for applications where a polyimide coating layer or film is desired. All are TSCA-approved. VTEC liquids cure very well under infrared (IR).
Many types are available, including the world’s only amorphous liquid polyimide. It never crystalizes and remains ‘rubber-like’ long term. It is FDA-compliant and currently in use as part of heart and brain implants. Non-NMP grades are also available.
The liquid is typically applied and then thermal or infrared cured into a thin film or layer. Following the cure, they become high temperature engineering polyimides which exhibit an exceptional combination of thermal stability (>550°C), mechanical toughness and chemical resistance. In addition, they have outstanding dielectric properties, even when applied down to about 6 microns thickness.
Applications include electronic circuit substrates, cast film, semiconductor wafer coating; fiber optic and capillary coatings; microelectronic stress buffers, passivation layers, chip bonding, and interlayer dielectrics; and wire enamel.
VTEC Polyimide Raw Materials
VTEC Polyimide Powder Or Pellet Material for Molding
R. Blaine Industries (RBI) offers several high temperature polyimide molding materials. Typical uses are for direct-formed part molding and as binder materials for applications and uses such as modifiers for fluorine resins, diamond grinding wheels, and brake / clutch facings.
One of RBI’s unique polyimide powder resin offerings is the economy VTEC PI-1031. In processing, it starts as a melt processable PI, but under heat and pressure it becomes a true thermoset and will not remelt. This polyimide material can accept high filler loadings (up to ~85%) of glass fiber, carbon, graphite, diamond powder, metals or combinations of fillers. A major application of 1031 is a version filled with over 60% glass fiber. In the critical application, it passes the extremely stringent Hot, Wet, Open-Hole Compressive Strength Test of polymer matrix composite laminates at 475°F (246°C) continuous, without cracking. Even though it is over 60% glass fiber filled, it is not brittle; the tubular shaped parts pass a 20 foot drop test onto a concrete slab without breaking.
VTEC Stock Shapes
VTEC Polyimide & Hybrid Polymer Stock Shapes for Machining
R. Blaine Industries (RBI) offers an extensive line of VTEC polyimide and hybrid polymer stock shapes for machining into precision parts. Shapes available include sheet, rod, tube, direct-formed and custom ‘near-net’ machining blanks. For volume needs, custom sized blanks or rod diameters can save considerable cost compared to purchasing standard stock sizes.
RBI’s unique VTEC economy grade (EG) materials bring down the high cost of traditional polyimides while providing unparalleled reliability comparable to other high performance materials. VTEC and hybrid polymer materials are available with many fillers and modifications including carbon, graphite, glass, PTFE, fibers, and minerals to exactly match application requirements to replace metals, ceramics and other materials.
High-Performance Stock Shapes For Machining
Rods, sheets and tubes of various popular high-performance stock shapes are available from us. PEEK, Torlon, Ultem, Techtron, Semitron, Vespel, PTFE and others are available at very competitive prices.
