PPO
also Noryl
PPO (Noryl) is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic, normally a polyphenylene ether blended with polystyrene, at 1.06 g/cm³ with 60 MPa tensile strength and 50% elongation.
Reference datasheet — PPO 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.
Values for the UNF condition
PPO grades and fills
PPO is supplied in 12 conditions, soft to hard. UNF is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 12 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Structural foam | Foam-molded thick-wall housings and enclosures where stiffness-per-weight and low tooling pressure matter more than surface finish. | 34 | 34 | 12 | 72 Shore D |
PPE+PP alloy | Low-density PPE/polypropylene alloy with hydrolytic and chemical resistance for EV battery packs, connectors and photovoltaic hardware. | 42 | 42 | 30 | 72 Shore D |
Impact modified / high impact | Rubber-toughened blend for snap-fits, thin walls and cold-impact duty where notch sensitivity must be minimised. | 47 | 47 | 65 | 74 Shore D |
Mineral / talc filled | Isotropic shrinkage and better surface than glass fiber; used for painted or plated cosmetic parts and low-warpage panels. | 52 | 52 | 8 | 82 Shore D |
Flame retardant, UL 94 V-0 | Choose for enclosures, busbar supports and PV/telecom parts requiring V-0 with retained dielectric performance. | 55 | 55 | 35 | 79 Shore D |
UNFDefault Unfilled / natural | General-purpose choice: best toughness/electrical balance and easiest molding; use where 100 °C service and moderate stiffness are enough. | 60 | 60 | 50 | 80 Shore D |
ESD / static-dissipative | Carbon-black or carbon-fiber loaded for IC trays, fuel-system and electronics handling parts needing controlled resistivity. | 60 | 60 | 8 | 80 Shore D |
PPE+PA alloy | Semi-crystalline PPE/polyamide alloy for online-painted automotive fenders, e-mobility and fuel-contact parts: solvent and heat resistance far above PPE/PS, but higher moisture uptake. | 60 | 30 | ||
High-heat | Higher PPE fraction raises HDT/Tg for hot-water manifolds, lamp and steam-contact parts; harder to mold (higher melt temperature). | 66 | 35 | ||
10% glass-fiber reinforced | Small stiffness and HDT boost while keeping reasonable toughness and low warpage. | 78 | 6 | ||
20% glass-fiber reinforced | Mid-range structural grade for pump housings and brackets needing higher rigidity and creep resistance. | 100 | 4 | ||
30% glass-fiber reinforced | Highest stiffness/HDT standard grade; pick for load-bearing housings and dimensionally critical parts, accepting brittleness and anisotropic shrinkage. | 120 | 3 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PPO is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PLATE | Plating / metallizing grade | Supply form |
FDA | Food-contact / potable-water compliant | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable | Grade option |
What is PPO?
PPO (Noryl) is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic, normally a polyphenylene ether blended with polystyrene, at 1.06 g/cm³ with 60 MPa tensile strength and 50% elongation. Engineers choose it for dimensional stability, low water absorption and stable electrical properties; it is available unfilled, with 10–30% glass, mineral-filled, FR V-0, high-impact, high-heat, ESD, UV-stabilised, foamed and plate stock. Maximum service temperature is about 100 °C, the amorphous matrix is notch-sensitive and prone to environmental stress cracking in aromatic and ketone solvents, and unfilled melt viscosity is high. PC/ABS or PBT are alternatives where solvent resistance governs. PPO has a density of 1.06 g/cm³ (0.0383 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 150°C (302 °F). PPO has a yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 2.5 GPa (0.363 Msi).
What is PPO used for?
- Electrical enclosures
- Pump housings
- Plumbing fittings
- Automotive interior trim
- Bus bar insulation
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0.07%, better than 81% of polymer grades
PPO properties
Typical room-temperature values for PPO-UNF; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PPO has a density of 1.06 g/cm³ (0.0383 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 150°C (302 °F).
Mechanical17
PPO has a yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 2.5 GPa (0.363 Msi).
Thermal11
PPO is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 0.22 W/m·K (0.127 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 60% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 60 µm/m·K (33.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PPO is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 21 kV/mm (533.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ 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 PPO takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
PPO's machinability is very good (70/100, better than 74% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability fair (50/100).
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. PPO is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PPO
Is PPO easy to machine?
Machines easily with sharp carbide tools, high speed and light feeds; keep parts cool and avoid stress risers — the amorphous matrix is notch-sensitive and can craze if solvent coolants are used (air or water only).
Can PPO be welded?
Excellent ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin and vibration welding; solvent bonding with chlorinated solvents works but leaves residual stress, and annealing is advised before service.
Can PPO be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 260–310 °C melt / 70–110 °C mold with pre-drying 2–4 h at 100 °C; high melt viscosity needs generous gates and runners, and shrinkage is low and isotropic (0.5–0.7%) in unfilled grades.
PPO 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 |
|---|---|---|
| poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (base engineering resin; higher fraction = higher HDT/Tg | 35 – 70 | 50 |
| impact modifier (SBS/SEBS rubber)toughening phase in impact grades | 0 – 12 | 3 |
| glass fiber0 in default unfilled grade; GF10–GF30 typical | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| flame retardant (aryl phosphate, non-halFR/V-0 grades only | 0 – 15 | 0 |
| stabilizers, pigments, processing aids | 0.3 – 3 | 1.5 |
| polystyrene / HIPSmiscible modifier lowering melt viscosity and cost | ≥ 25 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PPO?
Takes paint, hot stamping, laser marking and electroless plating well after etch; avoid aromatic/ketone-based primers and thinners which cause environmental stress cracking.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PPO in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Noryl
- Also called
- PPO/PPE
How much does PPO cost?
PPO is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
PPO — frequently asked
What is PPO used for?
PPO is typically used for electrical enclosures, pump housings, plumbing fittings, automotive interior trim and bus bar insulation. In short: very low water absorption; dimensionally stable amorphous blend; weldable and platable.
What is the yield strength of PPO?
PPO has a typical yield strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) — stronger than 69% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 12 listed tempers.
Is PPO easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, better than 74% of polymer grades). Machines easily with sharp carbide tools, high speed and light feeds; keep parts cool and avoid stress risers — the amorphous matrix is notch-sensitive and can craze if solvent coolants are used (air or water only).
Can PPO be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin and vibration welding; solvent bonding with chlorinated solvents works but leaves residual stress, and annealing is advised before service.
What surface finishes work on PPO?
Takes paint, hot stamping, laser marking and electroless plating well after etch; avoid aromatic/ketone-based primers and thinners which cause environmental stress cracking.
Can PPO be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 260–310 °C melt / 70–110 °C mold with pre-drying 2–4 h at 100 °C; high melt viscosity needs generous gates and runners, and shrinkage is low and isotropic (0.5–0.7%) in unfilled grades.
What is the maximum service temperature of PPO?
PPO is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PPO UNF and PPO FOAM?
UNF is the default condition — general-purpose choice: best toughness/electrical balance and easiest molding; use where 100 °C service and moderate stiffness are enough. FOAM: foam-molded thick-wall housings and enclosures where stiffness-per-weight and low tooling pressure matter more than surface finish. Yield strength is 60 MPa in UNF versus 34 MPa in FOAM.
How much does PPO cost?
PPO is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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
- Noryl resin (PPE/PS) product datasheets and processing guide — SABIC Specialties / Shpp (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics datasheets — PPE+PS, PPE+PA, PPE+PP — CWFG / CAMPUS (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- TECANYL / PPE stock shape datasheet — Ensinger (2022)
- ISO 15103 — Plastics: poly(phenylene ether) (PPE) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2007)
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.