Duratron® T4301 PAI is built for demanding service conditions where heat resistance, dimensional control, and mechanical durability all have to work together. It is a strong choice for precision parts that must keep performing even when exposure to temperature, load, and chemical stress is severe.

Product Overview

• Retains its strength and stiffness up to 500°F (260°C)
• Keeps thermal expansion extremely low through 500°F (260°C)
• Provides excellent wear performance in bearing-grade applications
• Holds up well under harsh thermal, chemical, and stress conditions

Duratron polyamide-imide (PAI) is supplied in extruded, injection molded, and compression molded grades, giving designers a wide range of options for different part sizes and manufacturing methods.

As the highest performing melt processable plastic, Duratron PAI offers outstanding resistance to elevated temperatures. It can operate under severe stress at continuous temperatures up to 500°F (260°C), and machined parts made from Duratron stock shapes deliver greater compressive strength and higher impact resistance than most advanced engineering plastics (See Figure 22).

Its very low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, combined with high creep resistance, gives Duratron PAI excellent dimensional stability across its full service range (see Figure 23). Since Duratron PAI is amorphous, it has a Tg (glass transition temperature) of 537°F (280°C). The stock shapes are post-cured using procedures jointly developed by BP Amoco and Quadrant, which removes the need for additional curing by the end user in most cases.

When a component made from extruded shapes needs maximum chemical resistance and/or improved wear performance, a post-curing cycle may still be recommended. This is especially useful for parts that will operate in aggressive media or repeated friction conditions.

For large shapes or custom geometries such as tubular bar, compression molded Duratron PAI shapes usually provide the best balance of economy and flexibility. Another advantage of compression molded grades is that the resin is cured, or “imidized,” before molding, so finished shapes or parts normally do not require post-curing.

Many of the popular extrusion and injection molding grades of Duratron PAI are also offered as compression molded shapes. In most cases, a second digit of “5” in the product name identifies a compression molded grade.

For engineers selecting a material for precision parts, this combination of thermal stability, low expansion, and strong wear behavior makes Duratron PAI especially attractive. It is often chosen when dimensional consistency must be maintained even as operating conditions become more severe.

General Purpose Wear and Friction Parts

This grade of Duratron PAI is mainly used in wear and friction applications. Its very low expansion rate, low coefficient of friction, and limited slip-stick behavior help it operate smoothly in service. With a flexural modulus of 1,000,000 psi, Duratron T4301 is stiffer than most other advanced engineering plastics. It performs especially well in severe-duty applications such as non-lubricated bearings, seals, bearing cages, and reciprocating compressor parts.

In practical use, these properties help reduce deformation, support tight tolerances, and extend the service life of critical parts. For demanding assemblies that must handle heat, motion, and load at the same time, Duratron® T4301 PAI offers a dependable high-performance solution.