Ideas and Innovation Blog

For more than five decades, DuPont has been at the forefront of material science, driving innovation and technological advancement with materials that have become synonymous with high-performance, reliability, and versatility. Kapton® polyimide film technology and Oasis® composite films underscore DuPont's leadership in overcoming challenges across diverse electronics and industrial applications. These materials have transformed industries by providing solutions that retain their integrity in extreme environments, where conventional materials often falter.

Introduced in the 1960s, Kapton® films provide a combination of electrical, thermal, chemical and mechanical properties that withstand extreme temperature, vibration and other demanding environments. The material is highly versatile – it can be used alone or coated, in combination with other materials to produce laminates like Pyralux®, or as a dielectric base layer.

Designed to survive virtually any adverse conditions in the surrounding environment, such as harsh chemicals or high mechanical stresses, Kapton® films have been adopted for use in a wide range of applications such as consumer electronics, power and renewable energy, rail, and aerospace and defense.

An emerging application within automotive for Kapton® films is the electric vehicle (EV) space. Previously, less highly engineered materials were considered sufficient for automotive systems. However, as car parts rapidly evolve to push boundaries, high-performance polyimide material is in growing demand – particularly for electric and hybrid vehicles, where insulation and high reliability are essential for battery protection and safety. 

Oasis® composite films, engineered with heat sealable fluoropolymer coatings on polyimide materials, play a vital role in the aerospace and cable industries. These industries impose rigorous quality and safety standards for which Oasis® films are ideally suited. Compatible with wire construction containing tin, silver, and nickel-plated conductors, the products can also be used in wire designs that call for copper conductors.

Timeline of innovation

• 1965: The Birth of Kapton® films
  DuPont introduced Kapton® polyimide film, designed to withstand extreme temperature ranges from -269°C to +400°C. This unique property has made Kapton® the go-to solution for industries where temperature extremes, chemical resistance, and mechanical durability are critical. Initial applications included aerospace and wire insulation.
  
  
• 1980s: Expansion into Flexible Circuits and New Markets
  With the electronics industry booming, Kapton® films evolved to meet new demands. Its electrica insulation properties made it the material of choice for flexible printed circuits (FPC), powering innovations in consumer electronics and military applications. During this period, Kapton® films also began to be used in industrial machinery and automotive systems, proving its reliability in diverse applications.
  
  
• 2000s: Introduction of Oasis® Composite Films
  As the need for lightweight, thermally efficient materials grew, DuPont launched Oasis® composite films,  combining the benefits of Kapton® films with advanced coating technologies for aerospace and wire insulation. Oasis® films offered higher hydrolytic stability and bonding capabilities, which were essential for modern composite wire designs in aircraft.

• 2010s: Tailoring Materials for Next-Gen Applications
  DuPont’s ongoing innovation led to new formulations of Kapton® and Oasis® films, designed for EVs, 5G communications, and power electronics. These materials address challenges such as signal integrity, miniaturization, and thermal management, ensuring that devices and systems can operate under increasing demands for performance.
   

Evolving technology for ever-changing needs

Kapton® and Oasis® films are more than just materials – they represent the evolution of technology to meet the needs of rapidly advancing industries. Over the five decades since its inception, Kapton® films have evolved and diversified into numerous formulations tailored for specific uses. Figure 1 illustrates the broad range of technology drivers.

Figure 2 provides an overview of the many types of Kapton® polyimide films available. Full descriptions of each Kapton® product can be found here, while Oasis® heat-sealable composite films, crafted with high tensile strength polyimide and fluoropolymer materials, include:

• Oasis® 200TRT515
• Oasis® 120TWT561

      Figure 2. Summary listing of Kapton® polyimide films.

The versatility of Kapton® film extends to its coloration, with some products being available in black or white to absorb or reflect light, respectively, as needed by an application. The James Webb Space Telescope’s massive solar shield, for example, is made of five thin layers of Kapton® E film with aluminum and doped-silicon coatings to reflect the sun's heat back into space.
 

Technical expertise and application development

What sets DuPont apart is not just our films’ superior performance, but also the breadth of technical expertise and application development that comes with it. DuPont collaborates closely with OEMs and designers to understand their evolving needs and develop new formulations that push the boundaries of technology. Always building on our success, we continue to evolve the capabilities of Kapton® polyimides film in concert with our customers’ changing needs.

This dedication to innovation, coupled with DuPont’s ability to scale production globally, ensures that customers receive reliable materials that reduce risk and improve product performance, no matter how extreme the conditions.
 

Why choose DuPont?

If you’re in need of high-performance films that deliver unmatched reliability in the harshest environments, Kapton® and Oasis® are the gold standards. With over 50 years of proven success, DuPont’s materials continue to lead the industry, backed by technical expertise, cutting-edge innovation, and a commitment to helping customers achieve the impossible.

Whether you’re advancing the future of electronics, aerospace, or automotive design, DuPont Kapton® and Oasis® materials are your trusted partners for high-performance solutions.