PESU
ISO 1043 PES · also Ultrason E, Sumikaexcel
Amber, amorphous engineering thermoplastic with higher heat resistance (Tg ~225°C) and flame retardancy than PSU, widely used for aerospace interior parts, membranes, and high-temperature electrical insulation.
Reference datasheet — PESU is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
PESU grades and fills
PESU is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 8 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bearing grade | Internally lubricated compound for high-temperature bushings, seal rings and wear pads. | 60 | 62 | 8 | 85 Shore D |
ESD / static-dissipative compound | Carbon-black or carbon-fiber loaded compound for wafer handling and electronics fixtures needing 10^4–10^9 Ω surface. | 78 | 80 | 5 | 88 Shore D |
Membrane grade resin/powder | High-purity, narrow-MW resin dissolved in NMP/DMAc for phase-inversion UF, MF and hemodialysis membranes. | 84 | 85 | 40 | 87 Shore D |
10% glass-fiber reinforced | Light reinforcement when moderate stiffness gain is needed with retained toughness. | 100 | 5 | ||
20% glass-fiber reinforced | Mid-level stiffness/creep upgrade for structural housings and connectors. | 125 | 3 | ||
30% glass-fiber reinforced | Workhorse reinforced grade for aircraft interior brackets, high-temperature structural and electrical parts. | 150 | 2.5 | 92 HRM | |
40% glass-fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness and lowest CTE glass grade for load-bearing high-temperature components. | 165 | 1.8 | ||
30% carbon-fiber reinforced | Choose for maximum specific stiffness, low CTE and static-dissipative behaviour in hot service. | 190 | 1.5 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PESU is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MED | Medical / USP Class VI grade | Certification |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is PESU?
Amber, amorphous engineering thermoplastic with higher heat resistance (Tg ~225°C) and flame retardancy than PSU, widely used for aerospace interior parts, membranes, and high-temperature electrical insulation. PESU has a density of 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 225°C (437 °F). PESU has a yield strength of 84 MPa (12.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) — stronger than 89% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 2.6 GPa (0.377 Msi).
What is PESU used for?
- aircraft interior components
- microwave cookware
- gas separation membranes
- electrical insulation
- medical sterilization trays
Advantages
- High strength — 84 MPa (12.2 ksi), better than 89% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), better than 85% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), worse than 76% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 25/100, worse than 76% of polymer grades
PESU properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PESU has a density of 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 225°C (437 °F).
Mechanical17
PESU has a yield strength of 84 MPa (12.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) — stronger than 89% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 2.6 GPa (0.377 Msi).
Thermal11
PESU is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 0.18 W/m·K (0.104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 73% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 55 µm/m·K (30.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PESU is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 17 kV/mm (431.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁵ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PESU takes about 150 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — more than 84% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PESU's machinability is good (65/100, better than 66% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PESU is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PESU
Is PESU easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp carbide tools, positive rake and generous air/mist cooling; avoid cutting fluids containing ketones/esters and stress-relieve annealed blanks (~180 °C) before finish cuts to prevent crazing.
Can PESU be welded?
Joinable by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR and vibration welding as well as solvent bonding (NMP/DMAc) and high-temperature epoxy adhesives; parts must be dried first or weld porosity occurs.
Can PESU be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 340–380 °C melt with 140–180 °C mold; resin must be dried 3–4 h at 150 °C to <0.02 % moisture. Sheet thermoforms above ~230 °C; high melt viscosity requires generous gates and runners.
PESU 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 unfilled grade; 10–40 wt% in GF variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| carbon fiberCF reinforced compounds only | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| PTFE / graphite lubricantbearing grades only | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| polyethersulfone repeat unit (–C6H4–SO2–amorphous polyarylethersulfone from 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone + bisphenol S salt; ISO 1043 code PES/PESU | balance |
What surface finishes work on PESU?
Amber transparent surface polishes well and accepts vacuum metallizing, hard coats and pad printing; UV-stabilizing pigment or coating is required for outdoor exposure to limit yellowing.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PESU in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 1043 PES
- Trade names
- Ultrason ESumikaexcel
- Also called
- PESPES/PESU
How much does PESU cost?
PESU is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PESU — frequently asked
What is PESU used for?
PESU is typically used for aircraft interior components, microwave cookware, gas separation membranes, electrical insulation and medical sterilization trays. In short: highest-heat sulfone after PPSU; inherently flame retardant; machinable transparent high-temp resin.
What is the yield strength of PESU?
PESU has a typical yield strength of 84 MPa (12.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) — stronger than 89% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is PESU easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 66% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp carbide tools, positive rake and generous air/mist cooling; avoid cutting fluids containing ketones/esters and stress-relieve annealed blanks (~180 °C) before finish cuts to prevent crazing.
Can PESU be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Joinable by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR and vibration welding as well as solvent bonding (NMP/DMAc) and high-temperature epoxy adhesives; parts must be dried first or weld porosity occurs.
What surface finishes work on PESU?
Amber transparent surface polishes well and accepts vacuum metallizing, hard coats and pad printing; UV-stabilizing pigment or coating is required for outdoor exposure to limit yellowing.
Can PESU be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 340–380 °C melt with 140–180 °C mold; resin must be dried 3–4 h at 150 °C to <0.02 % moisture. Sheet thermoforms above ~230 °C; high melt viscosity requires generous gates and runners.
What is the maximum service temperature of PESU?
PESU 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.
How much does PESU cost?
PESU is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Ultrason E (PESU) product line and processing guide — BASF (2023)
- Sumikaexcel PES grade data — Sumitomo Chemical (2022)
- TECASON E stock shape datasheet — Ensinger (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PESU ISO 10350 datasets — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- ISO 1043-1 Plastics — Symbols and abbreviated terms — ISO (2011)
- ISO 527 / ISO 75 / ISO 306 test methods — ISO (2019)
- Engineering Plastics — Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2 — ASM International (1988)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.