The Tape is Only as Good as the Supplier
Polyimide tape is used in a variety of applications ranging from oil & gas equipment and electrical insulation to automotive components and even aerospace systems. This is due to the fact that polyimide tape can withstand extremely high temperatures, has great chemical and electrical resistance, and even has solid mechanical compression properties. It’s the go-to solution for many composite manufacturers who have high cure temperatures both for thermoset and thermoplastic applications, but just as important as polyimide tape is to the application is the choice of polyimide tape supplier.
Identifying strong partners has been a challenge for many companies — and for some time. Whether you’ve been bouncing between suppliers or are just now beginning to suffer from your current polyimide tape supplier’s inability to meet your demand (or make important modifications to maximize application performance), the list below will help as you explore other options for polyimide shrink tape.
3 Criteria for the Right Polyimide Tape Supplier
1. Overall Product and Material Availability
The supply chain issues of recent years are continuing to plague many polyimide tape suppliers, as well as manufacturers of shrink films beyond polyimide. Constantly looking for a steady source of supply doesn’t help you achieve your production goals. Work with a supplier that is able to meet your unique supply requirements. Learn more about the supply issues and how to evaluate whether a supplier can meet your needs.
2. Tailored Shrink and Compression Performance
Just as important as being able to meet demand levels is the ability of a polyimide tape supplier’s product to work effectively with your composite parts and resin systems. While polyimide off the shelf is useful, it needs to work properly as temperatures rise during curing cycles and as resin viscosity begins to drop — which is right when greater compression needs to occur. A modified polyimide tape that applies greater compressive force as temperatures rise will improve yield and ensure the reliable performance of the composite part post-cure.
3. Tape Customization Capabilities
While your application will benefit from a tailored shrink process, what also matters is getting a tape that is specifically designed for it. You might need greater thickness, a narrower or wider slit, a specific webbing, or a very specific shrink percentage. Perforations may also be needed to allow outgassing. Whatever the demands of your unique application may be, working with a polyimide tape supplier that can meet them will help control material costs, streamline production processes, and maximize part performance. Learn more about customizing shrink tape for your application.
Work with the Polyimide Tape Experts
Dunstone has been supplying industry-leading shrink tape solutions to companies in multiple industries for more than 50 years. Our line of Hi-Shrink Tapes are some of the thinnest materials available on the market today, yet they can be customized to meet the specific needs of virtually any application. We’ve engineered our Hi-Shrink Tape products to apply compressive force on a tailored curve based on curing temperature and other criteria — ensuring the best possible result while preventing waste.
While we have many Hi-Shrink Tape options in stock, including our 212HT high temperature shrink tape and 208X polyimide shrink tape, we are able to best serve your application by speaking with you and applying further customization if needed. We encourage you to request a sample of our tapes for testing, followed by a conversation with our engineering team to discuss how we can further maximize the performance of our tapes.