Polyethylene naphthalate Films

Properties

Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) is a high-performance, crystal clear thermoplastic made from naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol. PEN has many attractive properties including high tensile strength, low heat shrinkage, excellent dimensional stability, low moisture absorption, and good retention of physical properties over a fairly wide temperature range. Its oxygen barrier, hydrolytic stability, and tensile strength surpass those of PET films. It also has superior UV resistance, excellent electrical properties, much lower heat shrinkage, good optical clarity and high gloss but only moderate moisture barrier properties. It has a relative high melting point and glass transition temperature (120°C), which makes it suitable for applications that require sterilization at high temperatures. Typical grades have a continuous service temperature of about 160°C.

Because of its higher price relative to PET, PE, and PP film, it is generally considered a specialty film.

Applications

PEN surpasses PET in top end demanding applications and is often a good and less expensive alternative to more expensive high performance films. The performance of typical grades is between durable polyester and polyimides.

PEN is often an excellent choice for applications in the electrical and electronic industry. Some examples are flexible printed circuits, labels, laminates, electrical insulation, processing films for semiconductors, and optical displays. Due to its low oxygen permeability and very low heat shrinkage, it is particularly suited for products that are susceptible to oxidation and/or are exposed to heat (continuous electrical use up to 160°C).

¹The global polyethylene naphthalate market is expected to reach US$ 1.40 billion by 2022. Source: Polyethylene Naphthalate Market Report, Grand View Research 2015