Polyimide vs PET vs PTFE Tape: Which High-Temperature Tape Do You Need?

Polyimide, PET and PTFE tapes all handle heat, which is why buyers often mix them up. They are built for different jobs. The quick way to choose is to ask what the tape has to do: mask, insulate, or stop things from sticking.

Polyimide (Kapton-type) tape

Polyimide film keeps its strength and its electrical insulation at temperatures where most other films fail. With a silicone adhesive it is the standard for PCB wave-solder masking, coil insulation and battery tab fixing. Our single-side polyimide tape (AHS-92xx) is rated 260°C continuous and 300°C short-term.

Choose it when you need the highest temperature rating, thin precise masks, or insulation that cannot fail under heat.

PET (polyester) tape

High-temperature PET tape is the workhorse of finishing shops. It is strong, solvent-resistant and costs less than polyimide. Our AHS-940x is rated 180°C continuous and 220°C short-term, which covers most powder coat cure cycles.

Choose it when you mask for powder coating, anodizing or plating and your process stays within its rating.

PTFE tape

PTFE gives a slippery, non-stick surface. PTFE film is smooth and conformable; PTFE-coated glass cloth is tougher and lasts longer on hot, abrasive surfaces like heat-sealer jaws. Our PTFE film (AHS-95xx) and PTFE glass cloth (AHS-96xx) are rated 260°C continuous.

Choose it when parts must release cleanly or slide, as on heat sealers, laminators and guides. It is not a masking tape for coating lines.

Quick comparison

Temperatures are typical values from the manufacturer’s data. Confirm against the datasheet for your process. Not sure which one fits? Send us your process temperature and what the tape has to do, and we will send a free sample of the right one.