Celazole® PBI
Celazole® PBI (Polybenzimidazole) is one of the highest performing engineering thermoplastic available today. It offers the highest heat resistance and mechanical property retention at temperatures over 400°F of any unfilled polymer. It has better wear resistance and load carrying capabilities at extreme temperatures than any other reinforced or unreinforced engineering thermoplastic.
As an unreinforced material, Celazole® PBI is very “clean” in terms of ionic impurity and it does not outgas (except water) in a vacuum. These characteristics make this material very attractive to semiconductor manufacturers for vacuum chamber applications. Celazole® PBI has excellent ultrasonic transparency which makes it an ideal choice for parts such as probe tip lenses in ultrasonic measuring equipment.
Celazole® PBI is also an excellent thermal insulator. Other plastics in melt do not stick to PBI. These characteristics make it ideal for contact seals and insulator bushings in plastic production and molding equipment.
- Highest mechanical properties of any plastic above 400°F (204°C)
- Highest heat deflection temperature 800°F (427°C), with a continuous service capability of 750°F (399°C) in inert environments, or 650°F (343°C) in air with short term exposure potential to 1,000°F (538°C)
- Lowest coefficient of thermal expansion and highest compressive strength of all unfilled plastics.
Specification | Test | Value | Units |
Specific Gravity, 73°F | D792 | 1.3 | – |
Tensile Strength @ Yield, 73°F | D638 | 16,000 | psi |
Tensile Modulus of Elasticity, 73°F | D638 | 850,000 | psi |
Tensile Elongation (at break), 73°F | D638 | 2 | % |
Flexural Strength, 73°F | D790 | 32,000 | psi |
Flexural Modulus of Elasticity | D790 | 950,000 | psi |
Shear Strength, 73°F | D732 | psi | |
Compressive Strength – Ultimate | psi | ||
Compressive Strength at 2% Deformation | D695 | psi | |
Compressive Strength at 10% Deformation | D695 | 50,000 | psi |
Deformation Under Load | % | ||
Compressive Modulus of Elasticity, 73°F | D695 | 900,000 | |
Compressive Strength ⊥ to Laminate (Modulus) | psi | ||
Compressive Strength ⊥ to Laminate (Yield) | psi | ||
Compressive Strength ⊥ to Laminate (Ultimate) | psi | ||
Hardness, Durometer (Shore “D” scale) | D2240 | 94 | |
Hardness, Rockwell (Scale as noted) | D785 | 125 | Rockwell M |
Izod Impact, Notched @ 73°F | D256 Type A | .5 | ft.lbs/in. of notch |
Coefficient of Friction (Dry vs Steel) Static | PTM55007 | .25-.30 | |
Coefficient of Friction (Dry vs Steel) Dynamic | PTM55007 | .24 | |
Maximum Static Bearing Load (P) | PTM55007 | 5,000 | psi |
Maximum Unlubricated No Load Bearing Velocity (V) | PTM55007 | 400 | ft/minute |
Maximum Limiting PV (Unlubricated) | PTM55007 | 37,500 | psi x ft/min. |
Wear Factor “K” x 10-10 | PTM55010 | 60 | Cubic in.-min/ft.lbs.hr |
Sand Wheel Wear/Abrasion Test | UHMW=100 | ||
Minimum Mating Surface Hardness | Rockwell (Brinnell) | ||
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion | E-831(TMA) | 1.3 | in/in/°F x 10-5 |
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion // to Laminates | E-831(TMA) | 1.3 | in/in/°F x 10-5 |
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion I to Laminates | E-831(TMA) | 1.3 | in/in/°F x 10-5 |
Softening Point | °F | ||
Heat Deflection Temperature 264 psi | D648 | 800 | °F |
Embrittlement Temperature | °F Min. | ||
Continuous Service Temperature in Air | 650 | °F Max. | |
Short Term Service Temperature | 1,000 | °F Max. | |
Tg-Glass Transition (Amorphous) | D3418 | 750 | °F |
Melting Point (Crystalline) Peak | D3418 | °F | |
Thermal Conductivity | F433 | 2.8 | BTU-in/(hr/ft2°F) |
Dielectric Strength Short Term | D149 | 550 | Volts/mil |
Volume Resistivity | D257 | ohm/cm | |
Surface Resistivity | D257 | > 1013 | ohm/cm |
Dielectric Constant, 106Hz | D150 | 3.2 | |
Dissipation Factor, 106Hz | D150 | .003 | |
Flammability @ 3.1mm(1/8 in.) UL94 | UL94 | V-0 | |
Arc Resistance | seconds | ||
Water Absorption, Immersion 24 Hours | D570 (2) | .4 | % |
Water Absorption, Immersion Saturation | D570 (2) | 5.0 | % |
Machinability Rating | 10 | 1=easy, 10=difficult | |
Rod Diameter Availability (Off the Shelf) | .375-4.75 | inches | |
Sheet Thickness Availability (Off the Shelf) | .50-1.5 | inches |
Characteristics / Attributes | Extreme Service Temp Rating / Low CoTe / High Retention of Mechanical Properties above 400 Degrees F. |