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Ultem 1000 ESD (ESD / static-dissipative PEI)

Grade

Surface resistivity in the 10^6–10^9 Ω window for wafer carriers, test sockets and ATE fixtures.

High cost $$$$

Values for the ESD condition

Other Ultem 1000 grades and fills

Ultem 1000 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at Ultem 1000.

Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
Grade · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %Hardness
Bearing / wear grade
Choose for unlubricated sliding contact at high PV and temperature — low friction and wear at the cost of strength and elongation.88901085 Shore D
ESDThis page
ESD / static-dissipative PEI
Surface resistivity in the 10^6–10^9 Ω window for wafer carriers, test sockets and ATE fixtures.110110488 Shore D
10% glass-fiber reinforced
Modest stiffness and dimensional-stability boost while keeping reasonable toughness and surface finish.—1246—
20% glass-fiber reinforced
Mid-range structural grade balancing stiffness, warpage and creep resistance in hot electrical housings.—1524—
30% glass-fiber reinforced
The workhorse reinforced PEI for structural brackets, connectors and steam-exposed parts needing low creep to 200 °C.—1693114 HRM
40% glass-fiber reinforced
Maximum-stiffness glass grade for metal-replacement parts where CTE must approach that of aluminium.—2002.5—
30% carbon-fiber reinforced PEI
Highest specific stiffness plus static-dissipative surface; used in semiconductor handling and aerospace structural clips.—2201.8—

What is Ultem 1000 ESD?

Ultem 1000 ESD is Ultem 1000 in the ESD grade — surface resistivity in the 10^6–10^9 Ω window for wafer carriers, test sockets and ATE fixtures. Ultem 1000 ESD has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 4.5 GPa (0.653 Msi). Ultem 1000 ESD has a density of 1.33 g/cm³ (0.048 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 217°C (423 °F).

Advantages

  • High strength — 110 MPa (16 ksi), better than 98% of polymer grades
  • Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
  • Stiff — 4.5 GPa (0.653 Msi), better than 88% of polymer grades
  • High service temperature — 170°C (338 °F), better than 83% of polymer grades
  • Conducts heat well — 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades

Limitations

  • High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
  • Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 83% of polymer grades
  • Limited ductility — 4%, worse than 78% of polymer grades
  • Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades

Ultem 1000 ESD properties

Typical room-temperature values for Ultem 1000 ESD; 29 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Ultem 1000 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.

Physical6

Ultem 1000 ESD has a density of 1.33 g/cm³ (0.048 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 217°C (423 °F).

Density1.33 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
Glass Transition (Tg)217°C423 °F
Water Absorption (24 h)0.25%
Water Absorption (Saturation)1.25%
Refractive Index1.66
Light Transmission78%

Mechanical17

Ultem 1000 ESD has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 4.5 GPa (0.653 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus4.5 GPa0.65 Msi
Shear Modulus1.2 GPa0.17 Msi
Bulk Modulus4 GPa0.55 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.36
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)110 MPa16 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)110 MPa16 ksi
Elongation at Break4%
Compressive Strength150 MPa21.8 ksi
Compressive Modulus2.9 GPa0.42 Msi
Flexural Strength165 MPa23.9 ksi
Flexural Modulus4.6 GPa0.67 Msi
Shear Strength85 MPa12.3 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)2.5 MPa·√m2.3 ksi·√in
Izod Impact, Notched35 J/m0.66 ft·lbf/in
Hardness, Shore D88 Shore D
Hardness, Rockwell M112 HRM
Hardness, Rockwell R126 HRR

Thermal11

Ultem 1000 ESD is rated for continuous service to 170°C (338 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 55 µm/m·K (30.6 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity0.3 W/m·K0.17 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity1,100 J/kg·K0.26 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)55 µm/m·K30.6 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)170°C338 °F
Min Service Temperature-50°C-58 °F
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa210°C410 °F
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa200°C392 °F
Vicat Softening Point (B50)219°C426 °F
Flammability (UL 94)V-0 at 0.41 mm, 5VA at 3.0 mm; inherently flame retardant with very low smoke (OSU 65/65 compliant)
Limiting Oxygen Index48%
Max Service Temperature (short-term)200°C392 °F

Electrical7

Ultem 1000 ESD is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 33 kV/mm (838.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 100,000 Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity100,000 Ω·m3.94×10¹² µΩ·in
Dielectric Strength33 kV/mm838 V/mil
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)3.15
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)0.0013
Volume Resistivity1×10⁷ Ω·cm
Surface Resistivity1×10⁸ Ω
Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)175 V

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is very good (84/100), better than 58% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.

Corrosion ResistanceVery good84/100
UV / Weathering ResistanceFair35/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryGood against dilute acids, aqueous salts, alcohols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils and repeated steam/autoclave cycles; attacked or stress-cracked by chlorinated solvents (methylene chloride, chloroform), strong bases, hot amines and polar aprotic solvents (NMP, DMAc). Anneal machined parts to limit solvent stress cracking.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of Ultem 1000 ESD takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)250 MJ/kg107,481 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)8.5 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water500 L/kg59.9 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content0%

Manufacturability8

Ultem 1000 ESD's machinability is good (58/100, worse than 55% of polymer grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (12/100).

MachinabilityGood58/100
WeldabilityPoor15/100
Formability (cold)Not recommended12/100
PolishabilityVery good80/100
Mold Shrinkage0.4%
Melt Flow Rate5 g/10 min
Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)370°C698 °F
Mold Temperature (typ.)150°C302 °F

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with Ultem 1000 ESD

Is Ultem 1000 easy to machine?

Machines like a hard amorphous plastic with sharp, polished-flute carbide tools, high speed and light finishing cuts; use air or water-soluble coolant (never chlorinated solvents) and anneal at ~190 °C to relieve stress before final passes.

Can Ultem 1000 be welded?

Joins by ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration, laser and IR welding as well as adhesive bonding with epoxies; solvent bonding is possible but leaves residual stress-crack risk.

Can Ultem 1000 be formed, bent or molded?

Dry pellets 4–6 h at 150 °C to <0.02% moisture, mould at 340–400 °C melt with 135–175 °C tools; sheet thermoforms around 220–250 °C with generous draft and slow cooling.

What surface finishes work on Ultem 1000?

Takes vapour-free polishing to optical clarity, hard coatings, painting and vacuum metallizing after plasma or primer treatment; pigment/paint or UV-stable topcoats are needed for outdoor exposure.

Ultem 1000 chemical composition (wt %)

Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)
glass fiber0% in Ultem 1000; 10–40% in the 2000-series variants≈ 0
polyetherimide (BPA-dianhydride + m-phenUnfilled amorphous PEI homopolymer; no added halogen flame retardantbalance

Ultem 1000 ESD — frequently asked

What is Ultem 1000 ESD used for?

Ultem 1000 ESD is typically used for aerospace interior components, medical sterilizable trays, electrical connectors, precision machined parts and food processing equipment. In short: baseline reference PEI grade; transparent high-temperature thermoplastic; machines from plate and rod.

What is the yield strength of Ultem 1000 ESD?

Ultem 1000 ESD has a typical yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.

Is Ultem 1000 ESD easy to machine?

Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, worse than 55% of polymer grades). Machines like a hard amorphous plastic with sharp, polished-flute carbide tools, high speed and light finishing cuts; use air or water-soluble coolant (never chlorinated solvents) and anneal at ~190 °C to relieve stress before final passes.

Can Ultem 1000 ESD be welded?

Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Joins by ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration, laser and IR welding as well as adhesive bonding with epoxies; solvent bonding is possible but leaves residual stress-crack risk.

What surface finishes work on Ultem 1000 ESD?

Takes vapour-free polishing to optical clarity, hard coatings, painting and vacuum metallizing after plasma or primer treatment; pigment/paint or UV-stable topcoats are needed for outdoor exposure.

Can Ultem 1000 ESD be formed, bent or molded?

Dry pellets 4–6 h at 150 °C to <0.02% moisture, mould at 340–400 °C melt with 135–175 °C tools; sheet thermoforms around 220–250 °C with generous draft and slow cooling.

What is the maximum service temperature of Ultem 1000 ESD?

Ultem 1000 ESD is rated for continuous use to about 170°C (338 °F), and briefly to 200°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

  1. ULTEM Resin 1000 Product Datasheet — SABIC Specialties (2023)
  2. CAMPUS Plastics — Polyetherimide (PEI) unfilled data sets — CWFG / CAMPUS (2023)
  3. TECAPEI natural stock shape datasheet — Ensinger (2022)
  4. Duratron U1000 PEI datasheet — Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (2022)
  5. ASTM D638 / D790 / D648 / D256 / D257 test methods — ASTM International (2022)
  6. Engineering Plastics Handbook — high-temperature amorphous polymers — McGraw-Hill (2006)

Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.