Polyimide Family
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Polyimides (PI) are a family of high performing thermoset polymers which include an imide linkage as their central identifying element. Polyimides are particularly known for their extraordinary thermal stability in high and low temperature environments, chemical resistance, and dielectric and tensile strength. These properties and more have led to polyimide’s widespread use in medical devices as well as a wide variety of industrial applications.
Polyimide Tubing
Polyimide tubing can be produced in a range of ID sizes with thin walls and extremely tight tolerance. Polyimide tubing can also be provided in multi-layered forms combining PI and PI Glide™ layers. This layered construction allows the properties of the tube to be further modified for its intended application. As an example, a PI / PI Glide™ tube can have a lubricious PI Glide™ inside diameter (ID) with a bondable polyimide outside diameter (OD) or vice versa. Other tubing properties can also be modified by layering PI and PI Glide™ together.
Reinforced Polyimide Tubing
Braid and coil reinforced polyimide tubing is available for challenging applications that require enhanced torque, flexibility, kink resistance, improved pushability, or increased strength. These features help medical device engineers optimize their device designs and fine-tune key performance characteristics, paving the way for improved procedural outcomes and increased patient safety.
Zeus polyimide tubing can be produced in full-load and half-load braid patterns, with various PPI (picks per inch) depending on your specifications. Lower braid densities (low PPI) result in increased pushability, while higher braid densities (high PPI) result in increased flexibility and steerability. Reinforced polyimide tubing is also available in coil configurations with various WPI (wraps per inch) to meet your specifications.
Polyimide Coated Wire
Polyimide can be coated onto wire in extremely thin layers. PI and PI Glide™ are available for coated wire applications, and these can be applied onto multiple substrates such as copper, nitinol, stainless steel, and silver plated copper. Coated wire can be used for both medical and non-medical applications such as coated pull wires, lead wires (insulated wire), release mandrels, and more.
Polyimide coated wire provides:
- High Dielectric Strength
- Abrasion Resistance
- High Temperature Tolerance
| Polyimide Tubing | Reinforced Polyimide Tubing | Polyimide Coated Wire | |
| Process | Film-Cast | Film-Cast | Coated Wire |
| Material | Polyimide, PI Glide™ | Polyimide, PI Glide™ | Polyimide, PI Glide™ |
| Inside Diameter (ID) / Outside Diameter (OD) | 0.0045″ to 0.090″ ID (0.1143 mm to 2.286 mm) |
0.010″ to 0.070″ ID (0.254 mm to 1.778 mm) |
0.0045″ to 0.090″ OD (0.1143 mm to 2.286 mm) |
| ID / OD Tolerance +/- | 0.0002″ to 0.001″ ID (0.0051 mm to 0.025 mm) |
0.0002″ to 0.001″ ID (0.0051 mm to 0.025 mm) |
0.0002″ to 0.001″ OD (0.0051 mm to 0.025 mm) |
| Wall Thickness | 0.0004″ to 0.005″ Nom. (0.0102 mm to 0.127 mm) |
0.002″ – 0.006″ Total (0.051 mm to 0.152 mm) |
0.0003″ to 0.005″ Nom. (0.0076 mm to 0.127 mm) |
| Wall Tolerance +/- | ± 25% | ± 25% | ± 25% |
| Cut Length | 78″ Max (1981.2 mm) |
78″ Max (1981.2 mm) |
96″ Max (2438.4 mm) Spooled 1000 ft Min. (Spooled 304.8 m) |
| Surface Treatment | Tie Layer Pebax®, Vestamid® |
Tie Layer Pebax®, Vestamid® |
Tie Layer Pebax®, Vestamid® |
| Reinforcement or Wire Type | N/A | 304V Stainless Steel, Nitinol | Copper, Silver Plated Copper, Stainless Steel, Nitinol |
| Colors | Natural, Amber, Green, Red, Black | Natural, Amber, Green, Red, Black | Natural, Amber, Green, Red, Black |
| Sterilization Methods | EtO, Gamma**, e-beam** | EtO, Gamma**, e-beam** | EtO, Gamma**, e-beam** |
** Gamma and e-beam sterilization methods are not available with PI Glide™
All Zeus polyimide products are available in conventional polyimide forms or in a high-lubricity version, PI Glide™, a polyimide + PTFE composite which offers up to 25% lower coefficient of friction compared to standard PI. With this enhanced lubricity, PI Glide™ is an excellent alternative for applications that do not require the performance of pure PTFE.
As an added bonus, Zeus PI and PI Glide™ tubing products also help you adhere to REACH and EU MDR guidelines regarding SVHC/CMR restricted substances* and allow customers to complete their medical device with products from a single source.
To learn more about polyimide or any of our other products, contact us or call 1-800-526-3842 toll-free in the US. Internationally, please call +1-803-268-9500.
* Our thorough analytical test results indicate that no SVHC/CMR restricted substances are intentionally included in Zeus-supplied polyimide products at levels above the 0.1% threshold outlined by REACH and EU MDR.
- APPLICATIONS
Catheters – Polyimide tubing can be used for both vascular and non-vascular catheter construction. With its extremely small sizing capabilities, polyimide tubing can be produced to reach the smallest sized vasculatures while retaining strength and rigidity for pushability. PI Glide™ tubing ID enhances lubricity.
Lead Wires (Insulated Wire) – PI and PI Glide™ coatings for wires provide excellent dielectric benefit and abrasion resistance. Polyimide coatings can be applied to copper, silver plated copper, nitinol, and stainless steel wire. Coating with PI Glide™ lowers surface friction for the coated wire.
Lumen For Guidewires – Polyimide tubing, with its thin walls and sufficient stiffness, provides an excellent lumen through which to pass guidewires for vascular interventions. Similar to PI tubing for catheter shafts, using PI Glide™ for the guidewire lumen improves deliverability and abrasion resistance.
Release Mandrels – PI Glide™ coated mandrels provide sufficient lubricity for easy removal at the conclusion of the build process.
- KEY PROPERTIES
Abrasion Resistance – Polyimide possesses excellent resistance to abrasion and has wear properties rivalling even those of PEEK.
Chemical Resistance – Polyimides are chemically resistant to acids, hydrocarbons, and common solvents.
Class VI Biocompatibility – Polyimide has a proven history of use within medical devices. For more information on polyimide’s biocompatibility, contact us today.
Coefficient Of Friction – PI Glide™ possesses a low coefficient of friction for ease of insertion of coated wires, tools, and other micro-sized devices within a tube.
Dielectric Properties – Polyimides display very good dielectric properties, meaning they also provide insulation in addition to physical and mechanical protection.
Tensile Strength – Polyimides as a family are known for their high strength, and Zeus polyimide products show exceptional tensile strength even at very small dimensions.
Thermal Stability – Polyimide materials exhibit exceptional thermal stability through both high and low temperatures.