NEMA Laminate vs. Thermoset PI

Both NEMA laminate and thermoset PI are thermoset plastics. There are 12 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (14, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is NEMA laminate and the bottom bar is thermoset PI.

NEMA Industrial Laminate Thermoset Polyimide (PI)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Compressive (Crushing) Strength, MPa		190 to 360
Compressive (Crushing) Strength, MPa		120 to 210

Flexural Modulus, GPa		6.4 to 18
Flexural Modulus, GPa		3.1 to 4.8

Flexural Strength, MPa		87 to 340
Flexural Strength, MPa		60 to 100

Impact Strength: Notched Izod, J/m		20 to 430
Impact Strength: Notched Izod, J/m		21 to 43

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		55 to 260
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		37 to 81

Thermal Properties

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		120 to 200
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		260

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		9.0 to 20
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		38 to 54

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		12 to 21
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		20

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.3 to 1.9
Density, g/cm³		1.4 to 1.6

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.17 to 3.5
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.14 to 0.24

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		8.3 to 40
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		6.5 to 16

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		17 to 50
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		16 to 30