Kapton® PST Polyimide Film for Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape and Coating
Kapton® PST is a tough polyimide film offering an excellent balance of physical, chemical, and electrical properties over a wide temperature range, particularly at unusually high temperatures, intended for use by coaters, laminators, and manufacturers of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. Typical tensile strength for the 100PST gauge is 252 MPa (36,500 psi) at 23°C; minimum dielectric strength across gauges ranges from 3,500–6,700 V/mil. The film is available in 50, 100, 200, 300, and 500 gauges with static-controlled processing to less than 5,000 volts static charge.
Key Properties
- Tensile Strength (100PST, 23°C): 252 MPa (36,500 psi) typical — ASTM D-882
- Elongation (100PST, 23°C): 72% typical — ASTM D-882
- Dielectric Strength, Minimum: 50PST: 6,000 V/mil; 100PST: 6,700 V/mil; 200PST: 5,300 V/mil; 300PST: 4,800 V/mil; 500PST: 3,500 V/mil — ASTM D-149-81
- Shrinkage MD/TD at 400°C, Maximum: 2.0%, all gauges — MIL-P-46112B (MR)
- Thickness Range: 50PST: 0.5 mil (12.7 µm); 500PST: 5.0 mil (127 µm) nominal
- Dielectric Constant at 1 kHz, Maximum: 50PST: 4.0; 100–500PST: 3.9 — ASTM D-150-81
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Physical Properties of Kapton® 100PST (Typical Values)
| Property | 23°C | 200°C | Test Method |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength, MPa (psi) | 252 (36,500) | 139 (20,000) | ASTM D-882 |
| Yield Point at 3%, MPa (psi) | 69 (10,000) | 41 (6,000) | ASTM D-882 |
| Ultimate Elongation, % | 72 | 83 | ASTM D-882 |
| Tensile Modulus, GPa (psi) | 2.5 (370,000) | 2.0 (290,000) | ASTM D-882 |
| Tear Strength, Propagating (Elmendorf), N (lbf) | 0.07 (0.02) | — | ASTM D-882 |
| Tear Strength, Initial (Graves), N (lbf) | 7.2 (1.6) | — | ASTM D-882 |
This table reflects typical values for the 100PST gauge only, per the source TDS.
General Properties — Thickness Specification Limits
| Property | 50PST | 100PST | 200PST | 300PST | 500PST | Test Method |
| Average Thickness Unit Weight, gram/m², Minimum | 14.0 | 33.0 | 68.1 | 102.1 | 169.5 | Torsion balance weigh test |
| Average Thickness Unit Weight, gram/m², Maximum | 26.0 | 35.0 | 74.2 | 115.2 | 192.5 | Torsion balance weigh test |
| Single Point Thickness, mil (µm), Minimum | 0.35 (8.9) | 0.90 (22.5) | 1.85 (46.2) | 2.72 (69.0) | 4.65 (118.1) | ASTM D-374-79, Method A or C |
| Single Point Thickness, mil (µm), Maximum | 0.65 (16.5) | 1.05 (26.2) | 2.15 (53.7) | 3.28 (83.3) | 5.35 (135.9) | ASTM D-374-79, Method A or C |
Mechanical Properties (Specification Minimums / Maximums)
| Property | 50PST | 100PST | 200PST | 300PST | 500PST | Test Method |
| Tensile Strength MD/TD, psi (MPa), Minimum, at 23°C | 26,000 (138) | 30,000 (165) | 30,000 (165) | 30,000 (165) | 30,000 (165) | ASTM D-882-81, Method A |
| Elongation MD/TD, %, Minimum | 50 | 60 | 60 | 65 | 65 | ASTM D-882-81, Method A |
| Shrinkage MD/TD at 400°C, %, Maximum | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | MIL-P-46112B (MR) |
| Moisture Absorption, %, Maximum | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | ASTM D-570-81 |
Electrical Properties (Specification Minimums / Maximums)
| Property | 50PST | 100PST | 200PST | 300PST | 500PST | Test Method |
| Dielectric Strength, AC volt/mil (kV/mm), Minimum | 6,000 (118) | 6,700 (236) | 5,300 (197) | 4,800 (177) | 3,500 (118) | ASTM D-149-81 |
| Volume Resistivity at 200°C, Ω-cm, Minimum | 10¹² | 10¹² | 10¹² | 10¹² | 10¹² | ASTM D-257-78 |
| Dielectric Constant at 1 kHz, Maximum | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | ASTM D-150-81 |
| Dissipation Factor at 1 kHz, Maximum | 0.0050 | 0.0036 | 0.0036 | 0.0036 | 0.0036 | ASTM D-150-81 |
- Backing film for pressure sensitive adhesive tapes requiring a polyimide substrate with high temperature resistance and dimensional stability
- Coating substrate for adhesive coaters applying acrylic, silicone, or other high-performance adhesive systems to polyimide film
- Laminating substrate for high temperature laminated constructions used in electronics and electrical insulation
- Carrier film for die-cut polyimide-backed pressure sensitive tape components used in electronic assembly
- High temperature electrical insulation film in constructions where the gauge is selected to match specific dielectric strength requirements
Common industries: pressure sensitive tape manufacturing, flexible circuit fabrication, electronics assembly, electrical insulation manufacturing, adhesive coating.
Kapton® PST is a polyimide film grade specifically designed and quality-controlled to meet the requirements of coaters, laminators, and pressure sensitive adhesive tape manufacturers. It is synthesized by a polycondensation reaction between an aromatic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine and is available in five gauges — 50, 100, 200, 300, and 500.
Material is processed with static eliminators to ensure less than 5,000 volts static charge at the roll surface, and roll uniformity requirements include freedom from visual continuous surface scratches and absence of defects such as wrinkles, MD ridges, stretched lanes, holes, and particulate contamination that would prevent production of acceptable quality coated or laminated products.
The material specification combines typical property data (the physical properties table for the 100PST gauge) with per-gauge minimum and maximum acceptance limits for thickness unit weight, single point thickness, mechanical properties, and electrical properties. Minimum tensile strength MD/TD at 23°C ranges from 26,000 psi (138 MPa) for 50PST to 30,000 psi (165 MPa) for 100–500PST; minimum elongation MD/TD ranges from 50% (50PST) to 65% (300–500PST).
Maximum moisture absorption is 4.0% across all gauges (ASTM D-570-81). Rolls ship with standard butt splices covered on both sides with Kapton® film-based pressure sensitive adhesive tape (2 in wide for all gauges), with splice tape centered on the joint to ±1/4 in.
What differentiates Kapton® PST from standard Kapton® HN?
Kapton® PST is manufactured and inspected to the roll quality, uniformity, and static charge requirements specific to coaters, laminators, and tape manufacturers — including freedom from defects such as MD ridges, stretched lanes, and particulate contamination that would cause coating defects, and static charge controlled to less than 5,000 volts. Standard HN does not carry these same production quality specifications. PST also defines minimum and maximum property acceptance limits by gauge rather than reporting single typical values.
Why does tensile strength matter for polyimide film selection as a tape backing?
As a tape backing, tensile strength determines whether the film can survive the tension applied during coating, converting, and slitting operations without elongating or breaking, and whether finished tape sections can be cleanly peeled and applied without film deformation. Kapton® PST's minimum tensile strength of 30,000 psi (165 MPa) for 100–500PST gauges confirms resistance to the mechanical loads of tape manufacturing and application.
What is the thermal performance of Kapton® PST?
Maximum shrinkage MD/TD at 400°C is 2.0% across all gauges per MIL-P-46112B. The 100PST gauge retains tensile strength of 139 MPa (20,000 psi) at 200°C (versus 252 MPa at 23°C). Volume resistivity minimum at 200°C is 10¹² Ω-cm across all gauges.
Is Kapton® PST suitable for regulated environments?
No compliance certifications are specified on the H-O Products TDS for Kapton® PST. Contact H-O Products for additional compliance information.
How should Kapton® PST be specified?
Specify grade designation (50PST, 100PST, 200PST, 300PST, or 500PST), minimum property requirements per gauge (referencing the specification limits on the TDS), width tolerance class, roll put-up (width and OD), core size, and whether an extra core label is required.
