Highest-temperature plastic.
Low outgassing.
Aerospace bearings.

Vespel raw material: $500–800/kg (yes, eight hundred per kilogram). PEEK unfilled: $120–180/kg. Nylon: $8/kg. Vespel premium reflects: (1) Extreme difficulty of polyimide synthesis, (2) Specialty forming process (compression molded from powder, not injection molded), (3) Small production volumes globally. Use Vespel only when application genuinely requires its unique capabilities — the cost is usually justified by elimination of lubrication systems or enabling continuous high-temperature operation.

PEEK for: continuous service up to 260 °C, general high-performance plastic applications, medical implants (PEEK-OPTIMA), cost-justified performance. Vespel for: continuous service 260–300 °C, vacuum-critical applications (< 1% outgassing required), self-lubricating bearings where no maintenance is possible, aerospace hot-section components. Price: Vespel is 4–6× PEEK — the premium needs justification.

Vespel is direct-formed or isostatic-pressed from polyimide powder, then sintered at ~400 °C. Not injection-moldable (polyimide doesn't melt below decomposition temperature). Available as cylindrical rods or billets for CNC machining. Custom near-net shapes available through DuPont for high-volume production applications.

Yes. Vespel is abrasive (graphite filler wears tools), dimensionally stable (good for precision), creates fine dust (respiratory PPE needed). Use: sharp carbide tooling (diamond preferred for SP-22 graphite grade), slower cutting speeds (80-120 m/min vs 200 for PEEK), air blast or minimal coolant, HEPA dust collection. We machine Vespel with appropriate procedures — just plan slightly longer lead times vs easier plastics.

Common Vespel grades (SP-1, SP-21, SP-22): in stock or 1-week material lead time. Specialty grades (SP-3, SP-211, CR-6100): 2-4 week material lead time from DuPont. Custom colors: not standard (natural golden-brown only). For urgent Vespel orders, confirm material availability before PO. Standard manufacturing lead time: 7-14 days after material in hand.

Graphite-filled Vespel (SP-21, SP-22) contains graphite particles that transfer to mating metal surfaces, creating a solid-lubricant film. This film provides very low friction (coefficient 0.1-0.15 vs 0.5 for most plastics against steel) without any added liquid lubricant. Standard for aerospace and satellite bearings where lubrication cannot be maintained — no grease, no oil, decades of reliable operation.