Kapton Tape

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Kapton Tape

Kapton Tape, also known as Polyimide Tape, is an electrically insulating heat resistant tape that has many uses for Reprap:

  • Insulation/fastening
    Kapton tape is well suited for fastening heating elements. As such, it's the material of choice for fastening heating wire to the heater barrel of an extruder such as the Mendel extruder. For example, the Casainho extruder uses Kapton tape. Kapton can also be used to tape the temperature sensor to the printhead/extruder.
  • Print surface
    Kapton tape is a good print surface for priting ABS on a Heated Bed. For ABS to stick to Kapton the Kapton needs to be hot (different sources mention minimum temperatures between 80-130 °C). Also the Kapton should be free of grease, grease can be removed with acetone or a propane torch. However, test your Kapton for fire resistance first!
  • Anti-friction
    Peter is doing some research at using Kapton as a low-friction film, as an alternative to lubrication. See his blog post and about page.

Safety Risk

Polyimide has excellent heat resisting properties, however it has limits. In the event of excess temperature, even in very small areas such as caused by electrical sparks, the tape can burn fast enough to resemble a small explosion. Make sure everything is well insulated and secured!

Test your tape for fire resistance before using it. Testing can be done in an oven or with a soldering iron. I know mine won't burn (North90ty).

Fake Kapton

Real Kapton is expensive, and fake Kapton tape is offered on eBay for less money. This fake tape might work well; I have a roll of tape labelled "Kapter" which works fine. However, test the heat resistance of your tape before using it!

Vendors

These vendors currently provide tape suitable for Reprap projects:


Polyimide Tape Vendors
Vendor (shipping location) Product Width Length Thickness Heat resistance Additional notes
BestOfferBuy (US) Polyimide Tape 8 mm 33 m   260 °C  
BestOfferBuy (US) Polyimide Tape 15 mm 33 m   260 °C  
Charlie's 3D Technologies (BE) Kapton Tape 200 mm 33 m   280 °C  
DealExtreme (HK) Polyimide Heat Resistant Tape 24 mm 33 m   260 °C Might provide fake Kapton, see below.
EckerTech (CA) Kapton Tape sheet 254 mm 228 mm 5 mil    
EckerTech (CA) Kapton Tape sheet 304 mm 228 mm 5 mil    
KaptonTapeOnline.com (US) Kapton Tape 1-15 mm 32 m 1 mil 260 °C  
KaptonTapeOnline.com (US) Kapton Tape 6-76 mm 32 m 2 mil 260 °C  
KaptonTapeOnline.com (US) Kapton Tape 6-76 mm 32 m 5 mil 260 °C  
MakerFarm (US) SuperWide Kapton Tape 120 mm 33 m      
Marketbot (US) Kapton Tape 6 mm 32 m   260 °C  
Marketbot (US) Kapton Tape 20 mm 32 m      
Marketbot (US) SuperWide Kapton Tape 120 mm 22 m      
McMaster (US) Kapton Polyimide Tape 6-150 mm        
McMaster (US) Kapton Polyimide Sheets 305 mm 305 mm      
Mendel Parts (NL) Kapton Tape 50 mm 33 m      
Mendel Parts (NL) Kapton Tape 25 mm 33 m   400 °C  
Mendel Parts (NL) Kapton Tape 13 mm 33 m   400 °C  
Paoparts (FR) Adhésif Polyimide 50 mm 33 m 2 mil    
ProtoParadigm (US) Polyimide Tape 10 mm 20 m 1 mil 260 °C  
ProtoParadigm (US) Polyimide Tape 20 mm 20 m 1 mil 260 °C  
ProtoParadigm (US) Polyimide Tape 130 mm 20 m 1 mil 260 °C  
ProtoParadigm (US) Polyimide Tape 220 mm 20 m 1 mil 260 °C  
ProtoParadigm (US) Polyimide Tape 310 mm 20 m 1 mil 260 °C  
The Masking Shop (UK) Polyimide Tape 3-250 mm 33 m      

DealExtreme

People have claimed DealExtreme provides fake Kapton, or to not have received their product. This was taken from a previous edit, it's worth a second look per satisfied customers below.

That said, I have Deal-Extreme-Kapton and it withstands a soldering iron.
--Traumflug 10:32, 30 September 2011 (UTC)
Second that. I have nothing but good experience with the (4-5 rolls, different widths) "kapton" I've bought from dealextreme.
--Nudel 01:03, 1 October 2011 (UTC)

Dupont

Dupont makes several types of Kapton tape. The standard Kapton HN works up to 400 °C and has a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 0.12 W/mK.

External References