Plastic is one of the most widely used materials in the world. It is incredibly versatile, with different versions of plastic suited to different purposes. It has so many different applications; it would not be a stretch to say that plastic revolutionized many industries. Vespel is one such form of plastic. As a result, it is in high demand and for a good reason, keep reading to find out more.

Vespel Explained:

Vespel was designed to withstand extremities of temperature, both high and low. It remains stable. Vespel is made up of a high-performance polyamide resin. To put it simply, vespel is an industrial plastic that manages to possess desirable characteristics of other materials like ceramics or metals. This means that it has a wide range of uses. It is lightweight, which makes it a great alternative to other materials like metal, and its imperviousness to extreme temperature make it ideal for hot environments.

Common Uses of Vespel

Vespel does have a wide range of applications across a variety of industries, although, that being said, it is most commonly found in military equipment, aerospace engineering and the automotive industries. In fact, it is claimed that almost every part on a jet engine could be enhanced by the use of vespel in some capacity. Vespel is usually used to make seal rings, washers, balls, bearings, gaskets and insulators.

Types of Vespel:

When it comes to vespel, there are several different iterations. However, each of these iterations fall into one of two categories, super polymers (SP) or super coiled polymers or SCP. Among the most common forms of vespel are SP-21, which weather wear and tear better thanks to a decreased friction. SP-22, which offers more resistance and thus friction which is meant to make it more stable.

SP-4 is designed to remain sturdy even in a vacuum or dry environments, which is why it was widely used during the early years of space exploration. Finally, SP-202 is extremely resistant to heat and wear, and it also removes electrostatic charges. Aero-Plastics Inc has a great resource on vespel from vespel SP-1 to vespel ST-2030, and they manufacture plastic components too.

The Advantages of Vespel

There are a number of advantages to using vespel; these advantages can vary depending on the industry that is using it. However, there are some universal benefits.

Firstly, they can withstand both extreme heat and extreme cold as mentioned above. In addition, they are resistant to chemical agents, radiation, hydrolysis, and electricity, instead acting as insulators. Vespel is also flame retardant and incredibly robust.

In Conclusion

The truth is that vespel can be difficult to work with, but its properties make this compromise worth it. It is unrivaled for the most part in the advantages that it offers to those that use it, hence why it is the first choice for many. In addition, Vespel continues to inspire innovation in a number of industries offering solutions to manufacturers; this means that vespel, for a lot of engineers, represents potential.