Ultem® / PEI
Cryogenic Deburring & Deflashing for Ultem® (PEI) Parts
PEI parts are often flight or medical hardware, where a hand-finished edge is a documentation problem as much as a quality one. Nitrofreeze removes the burr the same way on every part in the batch.
Can Ultem and PEI parts be cryogenically deburred?
Yes — Nitrofreeze cryogenically deburrs and deflashes machined and molded polyetherimide parts, including Ultem®-branded grades, at its Worcester, Massachusetts facility. PEI is one of the engineering polymers Nitrofreeze processes most often, alongside PEEK, Vespel® and Torlon®.
Will deburring affect dimensions or surface finish?
No. The Nitrofreeze process does not affect surface finish, geometry, or the material itself. The burr is embrittled and broken away at its root, leaving machined surfaces, threads and tolerances unchanged — including on glass-filled PEI grades.
Can ITAR-controlled PEI parts be sent in?
Yes. Nitrofreeze is registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) as a manufacturer/exporter under ITAR, so controlled aerospace and defense parts can be processed without an export question hanging over the job.
What Ultem and PEI parts does this work for?
Nitrofreeze deburrs PEI connectors, insulators, brackets, manifolds, sterilizable medical components, semiconductor fixtures and machined housings for aerospace, defense, medical and electronics customers — machined parts and molded parts with flash alike.
How small — and how large — can parts be?
Nitrofreeze processes parts from 0.025″ with thin walls up to 12″ × 12″ in its cryogenic machines — and there is no upper limit on part size: larger PEI parts route to dry ice deflashing or hand finishing. There is no minimum order quantity; runs are subject to a $125 minimum lot charge.
What’s the turnaround and typical cost?
The first run of a new PEI part is treated as a sample: five-day turnaround, free, as Nitrofreeze’s Pre-Production Engineering Evaluation. Once the customer approves the process, production orders turn around in as little as two days after receipt, with same-day and one-day service available for a small premium. Large volume orders typically require more time to process. Deburring typically runs 10–20% of the value of the part.
Is Nitrofreeze ITAR registered and ISO certified?
Yes. Nitrofreeze is registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) as a manufacturer/exporter under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and is certified to ISO 9001:2015 by NQA with a scope that names cryogenic deburring and deflashing. View the ISO certificate.
Send us your Ultem and PEI parts
The first run is a free Pre-Production Engineering Evaluation — five days, no obligation, with the process documented before you commit.
Nitrofreeze Cryogenic Solutions · 78 Chilmark Street, Worcester, MA 01604