Optical properties of Kapton: measurement and applications

Kapton Type H polyimide film is used extensively in situations demanding good electrical insulation, radiation resistance, and/or chemical resistance, particularly at high operating temperatures. At room temperature the physical properties of Kapton are similar to those of Mylar polyester film, but Kapton is less affected by temperature changes and is also approx. = 50 times more resistant to radiation damage than Mylar. In fact, Kapton has been found to retain its useful properties over the wide temperature range from -269/sup 0/C to +400/sup 0/C. In view of its extensive use, measurements of the optical properties of Kapton and calculations of the transport parameters for ionizing radiations, particularly low energy electrons, in Kapton are of interest.