High Performance Plastic · Ultra High Performance Plastic
PBI
PBI is a high performance polymer — highest temperature plastic. Typical values: 160 MPa yield, 1.3 g/cm³, rated to 340 °C. Available for CNC machining, Sheet metal, Injection molding at FabDigit.
Properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled condition. Metric first, imperial in gray. The bars show where PBI sits against the other 74 polymer grades in the catalog.
Datasheet
| Yield strength | 160 MPa23 ksi |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 165 MPa24 ksi |
| Hardness | 125 HRM |
| Density | 1.3 g/cm³0.047 lb/in³ |
| Specific strength (yield ÷ density) | 123 |
| Min service temp | -100 °C-148 °F |
| Max service temp | 340 °C644 °F |
| Electrical conductivity | < 0.001 % IACSinsulator |
| Machinability | Fair40 / 100 |
| Weldability | Not recommended1 / 100 |
| Formability | Not recommended5 / 100 |
| ISO 513 machining group | N |
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Against other polymer grades
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PBI is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PBI. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair40 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Not Recommend5 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Not Recommend1 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | — |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | — – — |
| Recommended draft | — |
| Pre-drying | — |
Conditions and tempers
How PBI is supplied and what each state is for. The default is what FabDigit quotes unless your drawing says otherwise.
| Condition | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UnfilledDefault Grade Modifier | Tougher and cheaper than filled — snap fits, housings, wear parts | — | — | — | — |
Heat treatment and post-processing
Operations FabDigit's suppliers routinely run on PBI, ranked by how often they make sense for this grade.
Post-processing
| Manual Deburr | Deburrstandard |
|---|---|
| Edge Break (0.5mm) | Deburr |
| Heat-Stake Insert | Assembly |
| Ultrasonic Insert | Assembly |
| Laser Engrave | Marking |
| Press-fit Insert | Assembly |
| Silk Screen | Marking |
| CMM Inspection | Inspection |
| FAI Report | Inspection |
| Individual Bag | Packaging |
Surface finishes for PBI
Coatings and treatments compatible with polymer on the processes PBI runs on. Pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing.
Injection Molding Coating
- EMI Shielding Coating
- Soft Touch Coating
- Spray Painting
- UV Coating
Organic Coating
- Painting
Marking / Decoration
- Chemical Etching
- Dot Peen Marking
- Electro-chemical Etching
- Embossing / Debossing
- Hot Stamping
- In-Mold Labeling (IML)
- Ink Stamping
- Laser Marking
- Mechanical Engraving
- Pad Printing
- Vibro Engraving / Scribing
Metallization / Functional
- Chrome Plating (Plastic)
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PBI in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Celazole
- Also called
- Polybenzimidazole
- Other
- PBI (Celazole)
Stock forms
Raw-material forms FabDigit sources PBI in.
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.