High-heat-resistant polyimide film Xenomax®

For inquiries

Xenomax®: Proposal to reduce the weight of in-space solar cells

A solution for reducing the weight of space-grade solar cell panels
High-heat-resistant polyimide film for glass replacement

Xenomax® has been developed for space-bound solar cell panels; samples are currently under evaluation.

What is Xenomax®?

The product, developed by Toyobo in 2007, is a polyimide film with world-class dimensional stability and heat resistance.
It is being promoted for cutting-edge applications—including space development—as a replacement for glass, silicon wafers, and ceramics, and for use in composite materials.

Xenomax®’s three features

Feature 01

Dimensional stability

It has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 0–3 ppm/K, providing dimensional stability equivalent to that of silicon wafers and enabling high-precision structural design.

Feature 02

Heat resistance

It offers best-in-class heat resistance for a polymer film and does not warp or deform even at temperatures up to 500°C.

Feature 03

Surface flatness

It has surface flatness comparable to silicon wafers and glass, making it applicable to precision electronic components, such as TFT substrates.

Next-generation film that makes
a difference in launch costs

Growing space business, launch costs, and
weight reduction needs

In recent years, the number of satellite launches by private companies, mainly in the United States and China, has surged for telecommunications, Earth observation, positioning, environmental monitoring, and other purposes.

Today, dozens of satellites are often launched simultaneously on a single rocket.
By 2030, approximately 3,000* satellites are projected to be launched annually—three times the roughly 990* launched in 2025.
*According to our analysis based on data from research firms and other sources.

The need to reduce launch costs is growing as the number of satellite launches increases.

The key to cutting launch costs is reducing
weight.

A 1 kg reduction in payload weight is said to cut launch costs by several million yen.
(*According to our company’s analysis as of November 2025.)
Because supplying fuel in space is difficult and costly, solar power is used as the primary source of electricity.
Therefore, reducing the weight of solar cell panels is a critical challenge.

Proposal to reduce the weight with
Xenomax®

To reduce the weight of solar cell panels, it is essential to reconsider their component materials.
In particular, the glass used as a substrate is heavy and directly affects launch costs.
Xenomax® is a polyimide film that can be used as an alternative to glass.
With its high dimensional stability, heat resistance, and surface flatness, Xenomax® helps reduce solar cell panel weight and, in turn, launch costs.

Reducing component weight is essential for making solar cell panels lighter.
To achieve this, we propose replacing the glass substrate with Xenomax®.

Flexible solar cell samples using Xenomax® as the substrate.

Click below to inquire about Xenomax®, whose in-space use is expected to expand,
or to download catalog materials.

For inquiries

To download the materials

Three reasons Xenomax® can
help reduce the weight of in-
space solar cell panels

01 Heat resistance, cold resistance, and dimensional stability that enable panels to withstand the harsh space environment.

■ Heat resistance/Cold resistance
In space, the temperature difference between the sunlit side and the shadow side can range from about −120°C to +120°C.
Polyimide film is used because it can function stably under such harsh conditions.
Xenomax® can withstand both extremely high and extremely low temperatures.

■ Dimensional stability (Low CTE: Coefficient of thermal expansion)
Xenomax® has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 0–3 ppm/K, resulting in much less dimensional change than general polyimides and therefore excellent dimensional stability.
→ This is expected to reduce distortion and misalignment in space, improving the reliability of solar cell panels.

02 Achieving up to 99% weight reduction as a replacement for glass substrates

In conventional solar cell panels, a 0.8 mm-thick glass substrate has been used. Xenomax® is only 15 µm (0.015 mm) thick. For the same area, it weighs about one hundredth as much as glass.
→ By replacing the glass substrate with Xenomax®, weight can be reduced by up to 99%, a major advantage that directly contributes to lower launch costs.

03 Foldable and space-saving thanks to its film form

Because Xenomax® is a flexible film, it can be rolled and folded.
→ Using Xenomax® helps minimize payload volume, thereby improving launch efficiency and reducing costs.