Vespel® vs. Meldin®
Compare Vespel® SP-1 and Meldin® 7001 unfilled polyimides to identify the best option for your project
Differences Between Vespel® SP-1 and Meldin® 7001
Vespel® and Meldin® are trade names for polyimide plastics. Vespel® polyimide materials are manufactured by DuPont™, which is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Meldin® materials are manufactured by Saint Gobain, which is headquartered near Paris, France. Both brands are available in unfilled grades as well as grades that have additives and fillers to enhance their dimensional stability and friction and wear performance.
Many of the formulations are proprietary to the two companies. Each grade is intended to enhance performance under certain circumstances and provide benefits for a particular set of applications.
The table below shows the properties of unfilled polyimide grades, Vespel® SP-1 and Meldin® 7001.
Typical Properties of Vespel® SP-1 vs. Meldin® 7001
| Property | Units | ASTM Test |
Vespel® SP-1 | Meldin® 7001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compressive stress @ 1% strain | psi | D695 | 3,600 | 3,000 |
| Compressive stress @ 10% strain | psi | D695 | 19,300 | 18,000 |
| Compressive modulus | kpsi | D695 | 350 | 326 |
| Flexural strength | psi | D790 | 16,000 | 15,700 |
| Flexural modulus | kpsi | D790 | 450 | 470 |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion | In/in/°Fx10-5 | – | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| Water absorption (immersion 24 hours) | % | D570 | 0.24 | 0.25 |
Values may vary according to brand name. Please ask your Curbell Plastics representative for more specific information about an individual brand.
Vespel® SP-1 has higher compressive strength and compressive modulus than Meldin® 7001. Compressive properties are important considerations for applications such as bearings and seals that involve compressive loads.
Vespel® polyimides are often specified for critical-service applications in aircraft, spacecraft, and semiconductor machinery. Vespel® materials have been extensively studied and characterized by both academic researchers as well as scientists from NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Know what you need? Shop our polyimide plastics online, or Contact Us with questions about these plastic materials.
Not sure which materials best fit your needs?
Our experienced sales and technical teams are available to assist you with material selection challenges.
