PAI

PAI plastic — polyamide-imide — is an amorphous high-performance thermoplastic that sits at the top of the engineering plastics hierarchy for continuous high-temperature service. The imide and amide linkages in its backbone give PAI an outstanding combination of mechanical strength, dimensional precision, and thermal stability that most engineering thermoplastics cannot approach.

PAI material performs reliably at temperatures exceeding 250 °C (482 °F) while retaining structural integrity under sustained mechanical load. It exhibits excellent wear resistance, very low thermal expansion, and strong dimensional stability — properties that translate directly into long service life for precision-machined components in demanding environments. PAI also maintains good electrical insulation characteristics across a broad temperature range.

Typical applications include bushings, thrust washers, valve components, semiconductor wafer handling fixtures, and aerospace structural parts where weight, heat, and precision requirements rule out metals and lower-performing polymers. Its low thermal expansion coefficient is especially valuable in applications where tight clearances must be maintained from ambient temperature up to operating temperature.

Ready Plastics stocks PAI in rod and plate forms for precision machining. For applications involving sliding contact, continuous bearing loads, or dry-running conditions, see PAI AF — the anti-friction, PTFE and graphite-filled bearing grade. Visit the PAI product page for stock dimensions and quote requests.