HANSA Polyimide Rod Manufacturer and Supplier in China

How to Choose Between Polyimide Rod Grades

Choosing a polyimide rod begins with the material grade, not the color or diameter. The base polymer and every added filler change the balance of thermal, mechanical, friction, electrical, moisture, and dimensional properties. A grade selected for lower friction may not meet an insulation target. A grade with higher-temperature capability may not provide the toughness or thermal expansion behavior you need. Use the following process to narrow the HANSA grade range before confirming the rod size.

Rank Your Requirements Before Comparing Grades

Begin by separating essential requirements from preferences. An essential requirement may be electrical insulation, a defined resistance range, lower friction, higher stiffness, reduced moisture absorption, or lower thermal expansion. Temperature also needs context: distinguish continuous service, peak exposure, atmosphere, load, and duration instead of asking only for a “high-temperature polyimide rod.”

Next, rank properties that may compete with one another. Increasing graphite content may improve the targeted friction and wear behavior while reducing toughness. Glass fiber may increase modulus but change surface, electrical, and thermal characteristics. Once HANSA knows which requirements cannot change, the grade comparison becomes more focused and useful.

Start with Unfilled PI When You Do Not Need a Filler

An unfilled grade keeps graphite, PTFE, glass fiber, and conductive filler out of the formulation. It is a logical starting point when you need a filler-free composition or electrical insulation. However, `unfilled` is only a material category, not a complete specification. HANSA’s current basic PI range includes A-PI-L8, A-PI-260S, A-PI-280, A-PI-330, A-PI-350-A, A-PI-380, A-PI-6010, A-PI-5001, A-PI-5200, A-PI-480H, and A-PI-480W.

A-PI-330 emphasizes toughness and plasma resistance. A-PI-350-A combines good toughness with a broad property balance, but it is not intended for high-temperature plasma or ultraviolet exposure. A-PI-380 offers higher-temperature capability and plasma resistance with lower toughness. Other unfilled grades address different combinations of moisture absorption, hardness, modulus, wear resistance, thermal expansion, toughness, and heat resistance.

Choose the unfilled candidates that match your first two priorities, then compare their grade-specific data. This prevents a familiar grade name, color, or single headline property from replacing the full selection criteria.

Compare Graphite and PTFE by the Full Friction Requirement

HANSA offers graphite-filled grades containing 15% or 50% graphite. A-PI-350-21 and A-PI-380-21 both contain 15% graphite, but their base polymers produce different property balances. A-PI-350-21 is the tougher option, while A-PI-380-21 places more emphasis on friction and wear performance at higher temperatures.

A-PI-5050 contains 50% graphite and gives greater emphasis to wear performance at elevated temperatures, with lower toughness. The higher percentage does not make it the automatic choice. Compare load, temperature, motion, lubrication, acceptable wear, electrical behavior, thermal expansion, and surface requirements before selecting the graphite content.

A-PI-211 follows a different formulation strategy by combining 15% graphite with 10% PTFE. Consider it when lower friction is a primary requirement, then compare its electrical, thermal, mechanical, wear, and surface properties with the graphite-only grades. The filler combination matters, but your complete operating requirement still determines the final choice.

Keep Insulating, Anti-Static, ESD, and Conductive Categories Separate

Electrical insulation, anti-static behavior, electrostatic dissipation, and conductivity describe different targets. An unfilled PI grade may support electrical insulation. A-PI-F and A-PI-ESD address controlled-resistance requirements, while A-PI-D targets lower electrical resistance and conductive behavior. Color alone cannot establish which category a rod meets.

Define the required resistance range before choosing between these grades. If electrical acceptance is critical, also state the test voltage, electrode arrangement, conditioning environment, specimen geometry, temperature, and measurement method. The same formulation can produce different reported values when the specimen and test conditions change.

Use Glass Fiber or a Vacuum Grade for a Defined Reason

A-PI-6010-GF30 contains 30% glass fiber and increases modulus. Review it when stiffness is a primary requirement, then check how the reinforcement affects toughness, surface behavior, electrical properties, and thermal response. Do not select it from glass-fiber content alone.

A-PI-MS follows a separate selection path because it targets self-lubricating behavior in a vacuum environment. Define the vacuum level, temperature, load, motion, and expected friction and wear behavior before comparing it with general basic or modified PI grades.

Compare Numerical Data on the Same Basis

Technical values only support a fair comparison when their test basis is comparable. Before comparing two grades, check the standard, specimen, temperature, humidity or conditioning, loading direction, and units. Continuous service temperature, peak exposure, glass-transition temperature, and short-term exposure are not interchangeable measures.

Apply the same discipline to strength, modulus, hardness, moisture absorption, electrical resistance, friction, wear, and thermal expansion. A larger value is not always better. The useful value is the one measured under conditions that represent your requirement and help distinguish the remaining candidate grades.

Confirm the Grade Before You Select a Custom Rod Size

HANSA cuts its polyimide rod from PI plate stock, so the selected grade and applicable plate must support the requested dimensions. First narrow the material grade, then provide the diameter, length, and quantity. HANSA can check your request against the confirmed ranges or review another specification.

Do not choose a diameter first and assume that every PI formulation is available across the same size range. Special fillers, electrical formulations, and higher-temperature polymer systems may require different plate stock. Stating the grade and dimensions together gives HANSA a clear basis for confirming availability.

This order keeps the material identity clear and avoids selecting by color or diameter alone. If you do not know the grade, send HANSA your ranked thermal, mechanical, friction, electrical, moisture, and dimensional requirements with the requested rod size.