An amorphous, transparent amber polymer, polyetherimide combines high temperature resistance, rigidity, impact strength, and creep resistance. Glass-fiber-reinforced PEI plastic grades are available for general-purpose molding and extrusion; carbon-fiber-reinforced and other specialty grades also are produced for high-strength applications; and PET itself can be made into a high-performance thermoplastic fiber.
Applications: PEI has found use in medical applications because of its heat and radiation resistance, hydrolytic stability, and transparency; in the electronics field, it is used to make burn-in sockets, bobbins, and printed circuit substrates; automotive uses include lamp sockets and under-hood temperature sensors; and PEI plastic sheeting is used in aircraft interiors.
