PES LUB (Bearing / lubricated grade)
Additive grade
ASTM D5205 · also Ultrason E
Use for high-temperature dry-running bushings, thrust washers and slide elements.
Values for the LUB condition
Other PES grades and fills
PES is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at PES.
Compare all 8 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LUBThis page Bearing / lubricated grade | Use for high-temperature dry-running bushings, thrust washers and slide elements. | 70 | 70 | 12 | 84 Shore D |
ESD / conductive compound | Choose for wafer-handling, cleanroom and electronics fixtures needing controlled surface resistivity at high temperature. | 75 | 75 | 8 | 87 Shore D |
Membrane grade | Solution-grade high-molecular-weight PES powder dissolved in NMP/DMAc to cast UF, MF, dialysis and RO support membranes. | 85 | 85 | 60 | 86 Shore D |
10 % glass-fibre reinforced | Light reinforcement when moderate stiffness gain is needed with less warpage than GF30. | — | 105 | 5 | — |
20 % glass-fibre reinforced | Balanced stiffness/toughness grade for structural housings and hot-water manifolds. | — | 125 | 3.5 | 92 HRM |
30 % glass-fibre reinforced | Highest-stiffness standard grade for load-bearing high-temperature parts and metal replacement. | — | 140 | 2.7 | 95 HRM |
40 % glass-fibre reinforced | Maximum stiffness and minimum CTE for precision high-temperature structural mouldings. | — | 155 | 2.2 | — |
30 % carbon-fibre reinforced | Pick when maximum specific stiffness, low CTE and static-dissipative behaviour are required. | — | 175 | 1.6 | — |
What is PES LUB?
PES LUB is PES in the LUB grade — use for high-temperature dry-running bushings, thrust washers and slide elements. PES LUB has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 3 GPa (0.435 Msi). PES LUB has a density of 1.46 g/cm³ (0.0527 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 225°C (437 °F).
Advantages
- High service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), better than 85% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.4%, better than 82% of polymer grades
- High strength — 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), better than 79% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.27 W/m·K (0.156 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 77% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.46 g/cm³ (0.0527 lb/in³), worse than 86% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 25/100, worse than 76% of polymer grades
PES LUB properties
Typical room-temperature values for PES LUB; 26 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PES reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PES LUB has a density of 1.46 g/cm³ (0.0527 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 225°C (437 °F).
Mechanical17
PES LUB has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 3 GPa (0.435 Msi).
Thermal11
PES LUB is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 0.27 W/m·K (0.156 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 55 µm/m·K (30.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PES LUB is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 16 kV/mm (406.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PES LUB takes about 145 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — more than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PES LUB's machinability is very good (70/100, better than 74% of polymer grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PES LUB
Is PES easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp carbide, high speed and light feeds; use air or water-soluble coolant only (avoid chlorinated/ketone fluids) and anneal at ~190 °C before and after heavy cuts to prevent stress cracking.
Can PES be welded?
Joins well by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR and vibration welding, plus solvent bonding with NMP/DMAc-based cements; glass-filled grades give lower weld-line strength.
Can PES be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02 % moisture (150 °C, 3–4 h), mould at 340–380 °C melt with 140–180 °C tools, generous gates and slow injection; thermoforming of sheet at 240–280 °C is practical.
What surface finishes work on PES?
Accepts printing, painting and vacuum metallising after plasma or primer treatment; unstabilised parts yellow under UV, so use topcoats or UV-shielding paint for outdoor service.
PES chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| glass fiber0 in default grade; 10–40 % in GF variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| carbon fiberCF and ESD variants only | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| PTFE / graphite lubricantbearing grades only | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| poly(oxy-1,4-phenylenesulfonyl-1,4-phenyAmorphous polyarylethersulfone, typically from bisphenol S / 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone polycondensation; unfilled grade | balance | — |
PES LUB — frequently asked
What is PES LUB used for?
PES LUB is typically used for dialysis and filtration membranes, medical device housings, aircraft cabin parts and electrical insulators. In short: high-Tg transparent sulfone; steam- and radiation-resistant; membrane-casting resin.
What is the yield strength of PES LUB?
PES LUB has a typical yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is PES LUB easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, better than 74% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp carbide, high speed and light feeds; use air or water-soluble coolant only (avoid chlorinated/ketone fluids) and anneal at ~190 °C before and after heavy cuts to prevent stress cracking.
Can PES LUB be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Joins well by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR and vibration welding, plus solvent bonding with NMP/DMAc-based cements; glass-filled grades give lower weld-line strength.
What surface finishes work on PES LUB?
Accepts printing, painting and vacuum metallising after plasma or primer treatment; unstabilised parts yellow under UV, so use topcoats or UV-shielding paint for outdoor service.
Can PES LUB be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02 % moisture (150 °C, 3–4 h), mould at 340–380 °C melt with 140–180 °C tools, generous gates and slow injection; thermoforming of sheet at 240–280 °C is practical.
What is the maximum service temperature of PES LUB?
PES LUB is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F), and briefly to 220°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Ultrason E (PES) product brochure and processing guide — BASF (2023)
- Veradel PESU / Radel resins design guide — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2022)
- Sumikaexcel PES technical data — Sumitomo Chemical (2021)
- TECASON E (PESU) stock shape datasheet — Ensinger (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database, PESU entries (ISO 10350 sets) — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 527 / ISO 75 / ISO 306 / UL 94 test methods — ISO / UL (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.