The Use of “Kapton” Polyimide Film in Aerospace Applications

Over the past 15 years, “Kapton” polyimide film has been adopted as the principal wire and cable insulation in over 70 military and commercial aircraft, missile and space vehicle applications. This wide acceptance is due to the unique combination of properties found in “Kapton”: low weight, low smoke toxicity, high dielectric strength, toughness, chemical resistance and the ability to withstand extremes of temperature.

This paper describes the key steps in the manufacture of wire and cable insulated with “Kapton”. It reviews the latest in shop handling techniques including automated stripping and high speed marking. Additional aerospace applications will be discussed in avionics and insulation blankets.