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17-7PH Stainless Steel Foil (Light Tight)
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
Key Features
17-7PH Stainless Steel Foil (Light Tight) (UNS S17700) is a pinhole-free semi-austenitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel foil providing complete light impermeability alongside high tensile strength, good corrosion resistance, and thermal stability:
Complete Light Impermeability
Manufactured to a pinhole-free structure, this foil provides complete light impermeability suited to optical isolation applications where the barrier must reliably exclude all external light transmission.
High Structural Capability from Precipitation Hardening (above 1600 MPa)
The aluminum-based precipitation-hardening mechanism allows tensile strength to be raised above 1600 MPa through conditioning and aging, giving this light-tight foil structural capabilities well beyond softer alternatives used in optical isolation applications.
Resistance to Thermal Cycling Degradation
Resistance to mechanical degradation under thermal cycling, combined with good corrosion resistance in moderately aggressive environments, makes this foil suitable for aerospace, photonics, and precision sensor applications subject to repeated thermal exposure.
Combined Optical & Structural Load-Bearing Performance
This foil is engineered for applications where the light-tight barrier must also carry structural or mechanical load — a dual-function capability not available in conventional, softer light-tight foil materials.
Good Corrosion Resistance
Good corrosion resistance in moderately aggressive environments supports reliable service life in shielding components and protective enclosures exposed to varied operating conditions.
Industrial Applications
17-7PH Stainless Steel Foil (Light Tight) is used across aerospace, photonics, and precision sensor sectors wherever the light-tight barrier must also carry structural or mechanical load:
- ✦ Light-Blocking Spring Elements
- Used as light-blocking spring elements where tensile strength above 1600 MPa after conditioning and aging gives the foil structural capabilities well beyond softer light-tight alternatives, while maintaining complete light impermeability.
- ✦ Shielding Components in Photosensitive Instrument Assemblies
- Formed into shielding components for photosensitive instrument assemblies, where the pinhole-free structure ensures reliable optical isolation and resistance to mechanical degradation under thermal cycling maintains barrier integrity over repeated thermal exposure.
- ✦ Protective Enclosures in Controlled-Light Manufacturing Environments
- Used in protective enclosures for controlled-light manufacturing environments, where good corrosion resistance combined with high mechanical strength supports long-term reliability under varied processing conditions.
- ✦ Robust Light-Control Barrier Development
- Supports the development of robust light-control barriers for precision instrumentation where both optical isolation and high mechanical performance are simultaneously required, applications beyond the capability of conventional light-tight foils.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Elongation at break( % ) | <25 |
| Modulus of elasticity( GPa ) | 214 |
| Izod impact strength( J m⁻¹ ) | 61-115 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 1020-1550 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 80-85 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 1435 |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 16.7@23°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 15.3@20-90°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 7.81 |
Tolerances
| Thickness | <0.01mm | ±25% |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.01mm - 0.05mm | ±15% |
| Thickness | >0.05mm | ±10% |
| Linear dimension | <100mm | ±1mm |
| Linear dimension | >=100mm | +2 / -1% |