spore: profile
id: pi-kapton-h
spore_version: 0.2
family: polyimides
name: Kapton H polyimide film
abbreviation: PI (Kapton H)
role: flexible insulating film, the original general-purpose grade
category: polymers
type: polyimides
summary: Kapton H is the original DuPont polyimide film made from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA). It is the H grade of the Kapton family; the general-purpose HN grade is covered in profile pi-kapton-hn. In low Earth orbit on the MISSE 2 experiment (ISS, 3.95 years) Kapton H eroded at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom, a little more than the 2.06e-24 cm3/atom predicted by NASA's erosion tool, so exposed film does not last without cover. The polymer has no melting point and the maker records successful use from -269 degC to 400 degC, though those range figures come from the Kapton family rather than from a test of the H grade.
best_for: A thin, flexible polyimide film for insulation and multilayer blankets where the film is covered or coated against atomic oxygen
weakest_at: Atomic-oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit. The MISSE 2 flight value is 3.00e-24 cm3/atom, so bare outer film is eaten away.
identity:
  formula: C22H10O5N2 repeat unit, poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide); made from PMDA and ODA
  source: banks2008
  where: Table IV lists the Kapton H formula C22H10O5N2 and molar mass 382.3314 g/mole; Wikipedia (wiki-kapton) gives the polymer name for Kapton K and HN, which share the PMDA and ODA chemistry
tags:
  environments:
    - low-earth-orbit
  stresses:
    - atomic-oxygen
    - thermal-cycling
  applications:
    - thermal-control
    - electronics-and-chips
properties:
  - benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
    label: Atomic oxygen erosion yield, MISSE 2 flight
    value: 3.e-24
    unit: cm3/atom
    scope: material
    conditions:
      experiment: MISSE 2 PEACE polymers, MISSE Passive Experiment Carrier 2 tray 1, exterior of the ISS Quest airlock
      exposure: 3.95 yr, 16 Aug 2001 to 30 Jul 2005, low Earth orbit
      fluence: 8.43e21 atoms/cm2 (average of two Kapton H fluence witness samples)
      solar_exposure: 5000 to 6700 equivalent sun hours (estimate in the report)
      thermal_cycling: base-plate nominally 40 to -30 degC
    method: Mass-loss erosion yield from flight samples, as printed in the NASA report
    status: flight
    note: Erosion yield is listed without a greater-than sign for Kapton H, so the value is a measured yield, not a lower bound.
    source: banks2008
    where: Table I (MISSE 2 PEACE polymers erosion yield data), row PI (Kapton H); exposure from section 2.1
  - benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield_predicted
    label: Predicted atomic oxygen erosion yield, Kapton H
    value: 2.06e-24
    unit: cm3/atom
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: NASA erosion-yield predictive tool, compared with the MISSE 2 measured value
    method: Predicted column of the comparison table, as printed in the report
    status: calculated
    note: The measured MISSE 2 value for the same row is 3.00e-24 cm3/atom, so the tool under-predicted erosion for this grade.
    source: banks2008
    where: Table VII (comparison of predicted and actual MISSE 2 erosion yields), row PI (Kapton H)
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density of Kapton H polymer
    value: 1.4273
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: density measured for the MISSE 2 polymer set, density-gradient method cited in the report
    method: Density column of the MISSE 2 density table, as printed in the report
    status: ground
    source: banks2008
    where: Table II (MISSE 2 PEACE polymers density and fractional ash content), row PI (Kapton H)
  - benchmark: molar_mass
    label: Molar mass of the Kapton H repeat unit
    value: 382.3314
    unit: g/mole
    scope: material
    conditions:
      formula: C22H10O5N2
    method: Atomic mass units column of the chemical structure table, as printed in the report
    status: calculated
    source: banks2008
    where: Table IV (MISSE 2 PEACE polymers chemical structure), row PI (Kapton H)
  - benchmark: repeat_unit_volume
    label: Volume per repeat unit of Kapton H
    value: 4.45e-22
    unit: cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      formula: C22H10O5N2
    method: Volume per repeat unit column of the chemical structure table, as printed in the report
    status: calculated
    source: banks2008
    where: Table IV, row PI (Kapton H)
  - benchmark: min_volume_of_atoms_in_repeat_unit
    label: Minimum volume of atoms in the Kapton H repeat unit
    value: 5.59e-23
    unit: cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      formula: C22H10O5N2
    method: Minimum volume of atoms column (V sigma) of the chemical structure table, as printed in the report
    status: calculated
    source: banks2008
    where: Table IV, row PI (Kapton H)
  - benchmark: ash_mass_fraction
    label: Mass fraction of polymer that is ash (Na)
    value: 0.00225
    unit: mass fraction
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: sodium ash content of the MISSE 2 polymer sample
    method: Mass fraction of polymer that is ash column of the density table, as printed in the report
    status: ground
    source: banks2008
    where: Table II, row PI (Kapton H)
  - benchmark: min_service_temp
    label: Lowest temperature of successful use stated for Kapton
    value: -269
    unit: degC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Kapton family, grade not stated for H
      basis: Wikipedia states Kapton stays stable from 4 to 673 K (-269 to +400 degC); this is a record of use, not a tested rating
    method: Statement in Wikipedia (Kapton article, Characteristics section)
    status: ground
    note: This range is for Kapton generally. The HN datasheet range is in profile pi-kapton-hn.
    source: wiki-kapton
    where: Characteristics section, first paragraph
  - benchmark: max_service_temp
    label: Highest temperature of successful use stated for Kapton
    value: 400
    unit: degC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Kapton family, grade not stated for H
      basis: Wikipedia states Kapton stays stable up to +400 degC; this is a record of use, not a tested rating
    method: Statement in Wikipedia (Kapton article, Characteristics section)
    status: ground
    note: The DuPont article information sheet names temperatures above 400 degC as a condition to avoid (dupont-ais, family sheet).
    source: wiki-kapton
    where: Characteristics section, first paragraph
  - benchmark: ring_closure_temperature
    label: Ring-closure (imidization) temperature of the poly(amic acid)
    value: 200
    value_high: 300
    bound: range
    unit: degC
    scope: material
    conditions:
      process: thermal ring closure of the poly(amic acid) intermediate to the polyimide
      grade: Kapton K and HN are named; the same chemistry is listed for H in Table IV
    method: Statement in Wikipedia (Kapton article, Chemistry and variants), given as 470 to 570 K
    status: ground
    source: wiki-kapton
    where: Chemistry and variants section
corrosion:
  - environment: Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit
    headline: Atomic oxygen erodes Kapton H at 3.00e-24 cm3 per atom that hits it, so exposed film wears away.
    effect: On the MISSE 2 flight on the ISS, Kapton H measured 3.00e-24 cm3/atom at a fluence of 8.43e21 atoms/cm2 over 3.95 years. The predictive tool gave 2.06e-24 for the same row. On LDEF the aluminized Kapton blankets were eroded on their outer surface, so the outermost Kapton layer was mostly lost (grade not stated in that report).
    rating: severe
    conditions:
      flight_1: MISSE 2, 3.95 yr, fluence 8.43e21 atoms/cm2, PEC 2 tray 1 on the ISS
      flight_2: LDEF tray F-9, aluminized Kapton multilayer insulation; grade not stated
    source: banks2008
    where: Table I and Table VII, row PI (Kapton H); section 2.1
  - environment: Atomic oxygen on exposed multilayer insulation (LDEF)
    headline: On LDEF, most of the outermost aluminized Kapton layer was lost, while the aluminized layers beneath survived.
    effect: The outermost 0.076 mm Kapton layer and the polyester scrim under it were largely eroded. The aluminum on the back of the Kapton remained in place and protected the underlying double-aluminized Kapton layers from the space environment. The report does not name the Kapton grade, so this is not an H-specific result.
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      tray: F-9, LDEF, outer layer 0.076 mm, inner layers 0.0076 mm double-aluminized perforated Kapton
    source: smith1994
    where: Introduction, Results of LDEF Space Exposure, and the MLI description
  - environment: Strong acids and strong oxidizers
    headline: The maker lists strong acids and strong oxidizers as incompatible, with no corrosion rate.
    effect: The DuPont article information sheet covers the Kapton film family, including grades beyond HN, and gives strong acids and strong oxidizers as incompatible. It gives no rate or test and does not name the H grade.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      basis: DuPont article information sheet version 2.2, 30 November 2016, covering Kapton FPC, HN, HPP-ST, PST, VN, V and GS film (0.3 to 2 mil); the H grade is not listed
    source: dupont-ais
    where: Stability and reactivity (incompatibility) section
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: 'DuPont article information sheet (family sheet, which does not list the H grade): gives no hazard classification and no hazard statements. It says inhalation and ingestion are not considered routes of exposure and advises washing skin with soap and water. Thick films have sharp edges that can cut. The film is insoluble in water.'
      ghs: []
      source: dupont-ais
      where: Hazards identification, First aid, Handling and storage sections
    - text: 'Fire: the sheet reports the flammability as self-extinguishing, and the film chars and burns in 100% oxygen but does not burn in air. Processing and unwrapping can generate static charge.'
      ghs: []
      source: dupont-ais
      where: Firefighting measures section
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Erosion by atomic oxygen
      trigger: Exposed Kapton H in low Earth orbit (MISSE 2, fluence 8.43e21 atoms/cm2)
      consequence: Film thins and is lost. The MISSE 2 yield for Kapton H was 3.00e-24 cm3/atom, above the predicted 2.06e-24.
      severity: high
      source: banks2008
      where: Table I and Table VII, row PI (Kapton H)
    - mode: Rips and holes from micrometeoroid and debris hits
      trigger: Particle hits on thin Kapton multilayer insulation layers in orbit (LDEF)
      consequence: Small rips and holes in the layers, with condensed vapor plumes clouding the next layer. The paper judged the effect on insulation performance minimal. The grade is not stated.
      severity: low
      source: smith1994
      where: Results of LDEF Space Exposure
  side_effects:
    - text: Eroded Kapton is converted to volatile products, and thin aluminum left after the Kapton eroded away can drift off as flakes. The LDEF report says this could degrade optical experiments if flakes entered the field of view.
      source: smith1994
      where: Results of LDEF Space Exposure and the contamination discussion
  handling:
    - text: Keep the film dry, stored at 20 to 30 degC, and away from strong acids and strong oxidizers. These are the family sheet's storage conditions, not H-specific.
      source: dupont-ais
      where: Handling and storage section
    - text: Take action to avoid static discharge when unwrapping and processing the film, and take care with thick film, which has sharp edges.
      source: dupont-ais
      where: Handling and storage section
uses:
  - application: thermal-control
    device: Multilayer insulation blankets on a spacecraft
    example: On LDEF tray F-9, a 0.076 mm outer Kapton layer and 15 layers of 0.0076 mm double-aluminized perforated Kapton formed the blanket; the report does not name the Kapton grade.
    source: smith1994
    where: Introduction and MLI description
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Flexible printed circuits and flexible electronics
    example: Wikipedia describes Kapton as a polyimide film used in flexible printed circuits and space blankets; the page does not name the H grade for these uses.
    source: wiki-kapton
    where: Lead paragraph
documents:
  - title: 'NASA/TM-2008-215490: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit'
    type: report
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
    year: 2008
  - title: 'NASA LDEF MLI results: Space Station WP-2 Application of LDEF MLI Results (NTRS 19940026511)'
    type: report
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19940026511
    year: 1994
  - title: 'DuPont article information sheet: Kapton FPC, HN, HPP-ST, PST, VN, V, GS (0.3 - 2 mil), version 2.2'
    type: sds
    url: https://www.boedeker.com/Portals/0/Safety%20Data%20Sheets%20SDS/Kapton-Film-Dupont-Safety-Data-Sheet-SDS-11-30-2016.PDF
    year: 2016
  - title: NIST Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (hydrogen page)
    type: database
    url: https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=H&ascii=html
    year: 2026
gaps:
  - No DuPont datasheet for Kapton H was reached this run. A search returned only HN, HPP-ST, XP and general pages; the Goodfellow Kapton page lists HN values only. So there are no H-specific tensile, dielectric, CTE, thermal or electrical values in this profile.
  - No outgassing (ASTM E 595 total mass loss, CVCM) entry for Kapton H was pulled from the NASA Goddard database this run.
  - No radiation (proton, electron, UV) result for Kapton H was found. The AIAA-2001-1414 paper covers Kapton HN and E only, so it is not used here.
  - No thermal-cycling endurance, moisture absorption, hygroscopic expansion, or cryogenic mechanical result for Kapton H was found.
  - No total ionizing dose or gamma tolerance for Kapton H was found.
  - 'Supply: no producer, country share, production volume or critical-mineral list for the H grade was found. Wikipedia names Qnity Electronics as the current maker of Kapton, without grade detail. Monomer feedstock abundance was not read.'
  - NIST standard atomic weights for C, N and O were not read this run (the fetched pages did not print intervals), so the recipe gives molar masses and atom counts instead. Only the hydrogen interval was read.
  - 'Hazard data for the H grade: the DuPont sheet covers the Kapton family and does not name the H grade. No PubChem or ECHA GHS record for Kapton H was read.'
  - The CAS number was not read for this grade in this run.
  - 'Property names: molar_mass, repeat_unit_volume, min_volume_of_atoms_in_repeat_unit, ash_mass_fraction and ring_closure_temperature are short snake_case names not in spores/property-canon.yaml.'
  - 'Count: 10 properties and 7 sources, below the 12 properties and 8 sources of the lithium standard. The shortfall is H-specific data that could not be reached in this run.'
  - The H-grade flight erosion value is the only H-specific property with a flight source. Everything else in this profile is a MISSE 2 table row, a reported formula, or a family statement that is marked as such.
sources:
  banks2008:
    title: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit
    id: NASA/TM-2008-215490, NTRS 20090011780 (Banks, Backus, de Groh, December 2008)
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
    year: 2008
    kind: report
    license: public domain (NASA)
  smith1994:
    title: Space Station WP-2 Application of LDEF MLI Results
    id: NTRS 19940026511 (Smith, Hasegawa, Jones, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace)
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19940026511
    year: 1994
    kind: report
    license: NASA NTRS document, linked not reproduced
  dupont-ais:
    title: 'Article Information Sheet: DuPont Kapton FPC; HN; HPP-ST; PST; VN; V; GS (0.3 - 2 mil)'
    id: Version 2.2, revision date 30 November 2016, Ref. 150000003827
    url: https://www.boedeker.com/Portals/0/Safety%20Data%20Sheets%20SDS/Kapton-Film-Dupont-Safety-Data-Sheet-SDS-11-30-2016.PDF
    year: 2016
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturer document, linked not reproduced
  wiki-kapton:
    title: Wikipedia, Kapton (chemistry, characteristics, history, usage)
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapton
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA (Wikipedia)
    note: Used for the ring-closure range, the Kapton family service range, the PMDA and ODA chemistry, and the uses list
  wiki-pmda:
    title: Wikipedia, Pyromellitic dianhydride (infobox)
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyromellitic_dianhydride
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA (Wikipedia)
    note: Molar mass 218.120 g/mol; CAS 89-32-7; formula C10H2O6; density 1.68 g/cm3
  wiki-oda:
    title: Wikipedia, 4,4'-Oxydianiline (infobox)
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4,4%27-Oxydianiline
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA (Wikipedia)
    note: Molar mass 200.24 g/mol; CAS 101-80-4; formula C12H12N2O
  nist-h:
    title: NIST Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (hydrogen)
    url: https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=H&ascii=html
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NIST)
    note: 'Standard atomic weight interval printed for H: [1.00784, 1.00811]'
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-20'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 10
  unreachable: 1
  caveats: 1
  note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-20. Values were read in this run from the NASA erosion-yield report (text extracted with pdftotext), the NASA LDEF MLI paper, the DuPont family article information sheet, and Wikipedia and NIST pages. No H-specific datasheet was reachable; see gaps.
story:
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      level: 1
      verdict: No hazard classification in the family sheet; sharp edges…
      lead: The family sheet gives no hazard classification for the film, but thick film can cut and build up static.
      points:
        - label: The film
          line: The DuPont family sheet lists no hazard classification and says inhalation and ingestion are not considered routes of exposure. Thick films have sharp edges that can cut.
        - label: Fire
          line: The sheet says the film chars and burns in 100% oxygen but does not burn in air.
        - label: Static
          line: Unwrapping and processing can generate static charge, so the sheet advises avoiding static discharge.
    - title: If it fails
      lead: These results come from flight exposure of Kapton and from one LDEF report, not from failures of finished hardware.
      points:
        - label: Atomic oxygen
          line: On MISSE 2, Kapton H eroded at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom, above the predicted 2.06e-24.
        - label: Debris
          line: Debris hits made small rips and holes in the thin LDEF layers, but the paper judged the effect on insulation performance minimal.
    - title: Handling and storage
      points:
        - label: Storage
          line: Keep it dry at 20 to 30 degC, away from strong acids and strong oxidizers.
        - label: Static
          line: Avoid static discharge when unwrapping the film.
  why: Kapton H is the original polyimide film of the Kapton family. It is a plastic whose long molecules are built from ring-shaped imide units, made by condensing PMDA with ODA and then ring-closing the intermediate at 200 to 300 degC. It has a formula of C22H10O5N2 per repeat unit and a density of 1.4273 g/cm3. Its main weakness in orbit is atomic oxygen, which eroded the MISSE 2 flight sample at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom.
  uses:
    - where: Multilayer insulation on LDEF
      line: The LDEF tray F-9 blanket used aluminized Kapton, with a 0.076 mm outer layer and 15 layers of 0.0076 mm double-aluminized perforated Kapton. The report does not name the Kapton grade.
    - where: Flexible electronics
      line: Wikipedia describes Kapton as the film used in flexible printed circuits, and does not name the H grade for this use.
  can_do:
    - label: Atomic oxygen
      value: 3.00e-24 cm3/atom
      line: On the MISSE 2 flight on the ISS, Kapton H eroded at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom over 3.95 years at a fluence of 8.43e21 atoms/cm2.
    - label: Heat and cold
      value: '-269 degC to 400 degC'
      line: Wikipedia states that Kapton stays stable from -269 degC to 400 degC. This is a family statement, not a test of the H grade.
    - label: Density
      value: 1.4273 g/cm3
      line: The MISSE 2 density table gives 1.4273 g/cm3 for Kapton H.
  compare: In the same MISSE 2 table, Kapton H eroded at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom, and the predictive tool had estimated 2.06e-24 for the same row. The H-grade erosion yield is the only H-specific flight result in this profile. The HN grade, covered in profile pi-kapton-hn, is listed in the same table at a lower yield.
  handling:
    - Keep the film dry at 20 to 30 degC, away from strong acids and strong oxidizers.
    - Avoid static discharge when unwrapping, and take care with thick film, which has sharp edges.
    - Cover or coat exposed film in orbit, because bare outer film erodes.
  good_for:
    - Thin, flexible insulation where a covered or coated film is acceptable.
    - Multilayer insulation blankets, following the LDEF example where the inner layers survived because aluminum protected them.
    - A polyimide with no melting point, covered by the family service range.
  watch_out:
    - Atomic oxygen. Kapton H eroded at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2, so bare outer film is lost.
    - The temperature range is for the Kapton family and not measured for the H grade.
    - No H-specific outgassing, radiation or mechanical data were reachable this run.
  verdict: Kapton H is the original polyimide film of the family, with a MISSE 2 erosion yield of 3.00e-24 cm3/atom and a density of 1.4273 g/cm3. It is a proven insulation film in orbit when it is covered or coated against atomic oxygen. For H-specific electrical, thermal and outgassing data, read the HN profile and the DuPont H datasheet, which were not reachable this run.
  compare_rows:
    - scope: material
      label: Atomic oxygen erosion yield
      benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
    - scope: material
      label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - scope: material
      label: Highest service temperature (family)
      benchmark: max_service_temp
  recipe:
    line: Repeat unit poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide), C22H10O5N2 (molar mass 382.3314 g/mole). Made by condensing pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) to a soluble poly(amic acid), which is then ring-closed at 200 to 300 degC.
    parts:
      - name: Pyromellitic dianhydride
        symbol: PMDA
        molar_mass: 218.12
        share_note: Molar mass 218.120 g/mol, Wikipedia infobox (CAS 89-32-7, formula C10H2O6)
        role: Dianhydride; supplies the pyromellitimide unit of the chain.
      - name: 4,4'-Oxydianiline
        symbol: ODA
        molar_mass: 200.24
        share_note: Molar mass 200.24 g/mol, Wikipedia infobox (CAS 101-80-4, formula C12H12N2O)
        role: Diamine with an ether link; supplies the oxydiphenylene unit.
      - name: Hydrogen
        symbol: H
        role: Standard atomic weight interval, NIST. Ten hydrogen atoms per repeat unit, from the formula in Table IV.
        share_note: NIST standard atomic weight interval for hydrogen
supply:
  - subject: Polyimide film (Kapton)
    abundance: Not read in a fetched page for this grade.
    producers:
      - name: DuPont
        note: Invented Kapton in the 1960s (Wikipedia, Kapton)
        country: DuPont
      - name: Qnity Electronics
        note: DuPont spinoff; manufactures Kapton as of November 2025 (Wikipedia, Kapton); grade not stated
        country: Qnity Electronics
    critical_lists: []
    recycling: Not sourced.
    substitutes:
      - Kapton E is a copolymer of PMDA with BPDA and ODA with PPD, which Wikipedia says has reduced CTE, moisture absorption and hygroscopic expansion compared to Kapton H.
    source: wiki-kapton
    where: Manufacturers and history; Chemistry and variants section