Page 182 - Engineering Plastics Handbook

Chapter
8

Thermoplastic

Polyetherimide (PEI)

R. R. Gallucci, Ph.D.*
GE Plastics
Mt. Vernon, Indiana, USA

Introduction
Thermoplastic polyetherimides provide the strength, heat resistance,
and flame retardancy of traditional polyimides with the ease of simple
melt processing seen in standard injection-molding resins such as poly-
carbonate and ABS.
The key performance features of PEI resins include

■ Excellent dimensional stability at high temperatures under load
■ Smooth as-molded surfaces that are easily metallized or painted
■ Transparency, optical properties, and excellent aesthetics
■ Very high strength and modulus
■ Good solvent resistance over a wide temperature range
■ High continuous-use temperature
■ Inherent ignition resistance without the use of phosphorous or halo-
gen additives

*Author can be contacted at Robert.Gallucci@ge.com or by writing him at GE Plastics,
1 Lexan Lane, Mt. Vernon, Indiana 47620, USA.

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