ULTEM®
A clear amber material, Ultem® (an amorphous, thermoplastic polyetherimide [PEI] resin) is rigid, with high tensile and flexural strength. It also displays stable electrical properties over a wide range of temperatures. Ultem® allows for a unique combination of thermal, mechanical, chemically resistant, and electrical properties, typically only found in higher-cost engineered plastic manifold applications.
Due to its high performance and ease of manufacturing, Ultem® is an excellent choice for manifolds, reusable machined components, electrical insulators, electrical component housings and aircraft instrumentation. It is utilized in a wide cross section of manufacturing industries: medical, pharmaceutical, electronics, semiconductor design, aircraft, aerospace, and automotive.
ULTEM® AT A GLANCE
- Most costly
- High tensile strength
- Good chemical resistance
- V0 flammability
- Superior UV stability
- High dielectric strength
- Available in dark amber or black typically
- Continuous service temperature to 330°F
- More difficult to bond

ULTEM® MANIFOLDS
For fluidic manifolds, Ultem® provides higher performance than polycarbonate, polysulfone, and acrylic manifolds. It has a higher working temperature and better chemical resistance.
Ultem® can be difficult to see through — especially over 1 inch thick. The material (which can be a very dark amber) looks "blacker" the thicker it gets, making channel and internal feature inspection difficult. Ultem® is also the costliest plastic Controlled Fluidics processes, being about two times the cost of acrylic.
Ultem® round, square ,and singled-sided D-channels are all possible to .020”. Multi-layer "common" designs increase costs sharply after two Ultem® layers. Internal pressures to 150 psi are possible, depending on channel size. Large cavities and bonded-in components are available but, the design must be high-heat tolerant.
More about Ultem®
Ultem® combines exceptional strength and rigidity with excellent thermal properties, including outstanding heat resistance under continuous operating temperatures. This material can also be reinforced with glass fiber for increased rigidity.
Ultem®'s General Engineering Characteristics
- FDA compliant
- High dielectric strength
- UV stable
- Glass transition temperature of 217°C; stable to 200°C
- Tensile strength: 15,200 psi
- Modulus of elasticity: 430,000
- Flexural modulus: 480,000
- Deflection Temperature: 392°F at 264 psi
- VO Flammability
- Superior UV stability