High-resolution　inverse　synthetic　aperture　radar　(ISAR)　imaging　based　on　parameter　estimation　of　polynomial　phase　signal　is　a　quite　significant　research　hotspot,　in　which　the　azimuth　echo　can　be　modeled　as　multi-component　quadratic　frequency　modulation　(QFM)　signal　after　preprocessing,　which　leads　to　the　time-varying　Doppler　frequency.　In　this　paper,　an　effective　parameter　estimation　method　called　the　product　form　of　symmetric　correlation　function　based　on　the　fractional　Fourier　transform　(PFrSCF)　is　proposed.　In　proposed　method,　a　novel　symmetric　correlation　function　is　used　to　reduce　phase　order　of　QFM　signal　firstly.　Then,　the　PFrSCF　can　estimate　two　parameters　of　QFM　signal　simultaneously　by　the　fractional　Fourier　transform　and　suppress　cross　term　by　the　product　in　fractional　Fourier　transform　domain.　Compared　with　other　methods,　the　PFrSCF　is　capable　of　suppressing　cross　term　effectively　and　ensuring　the　good　accuracy　of　parameters.　Moreover,　the　PFrSCF　is　robust　in　noisy　environment.　Finally,　associated　with　range-instantaneous-Doppler　imaging　technology,　a　novel　ISAR　imaging　algorithm　is　presented　based　on　PFrSCF　method.　The　performances　of　PFrSCF　method　and　the　corresponding　ISAR　imaging　algorithm　of　target　are　verified　by　simulated　and　real　data.　©　2018　Elsevier　Inc.