PPS
ASTM D4507, D4459 · also Fortron, Tedur
PPS is a semi-crystalline high-temperature thermoplastic with a rigid aromatic sulfide backbone, offered unfilled and as GF30, GF30-IM, GF40, GF65 mineral, CF30 and bearing grades (Fortron, Ryton, Tedur, DIC PPS).
PPS grades and fills
PPS is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTFE / graphite / carbon lubricated PPS | Pick for unlubricated sliding parts — bushings, wear pads, seal faces, thrust washers — running hot or in aggressive fluids. | 85 | 2 | ||
Impact-modified / elastomer-toughened glass-filled PPS | Choose when snap-fits, press-fit inserts, thermal shock or vibration would crack standard brittle PPS, at the cost of stiffness and HDT. | 120 | 3 | ||
65% glass/mineral filled | Choose for maximum dimensional stability, lowest shrinkage/warpage and lowest cost per litre in encapsulation, bobbins and precision electrical housings. | 130 | 0.9 | ||
30% glass-fiber reinforced | The general-purpose reinforced injection grade: good balance of strength, toughness and flow for connectors, pump housings and covers. | 150 | 1.9 | 98 HRM | |
40% glass-fiber reinforced | Highest-strength/stiffness standard grade for structural under-hood, pump and valve parts; most anisotropic warpage and most abrasive to tooling. | 190 | 1.4 | 100 HRM | |
30% carbon-fiber reinforced | Use where high specific stiffness, low CTE, static dissipation or fuel/EMI-related conductivity is required. | 195 | 1.2 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PPS is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
UnfilledDefault | Natural / neat PPS | Standard supply |
What is PPS?
PPS is a semi-crystalline high-temperature thermoplastic with a rigid aromatic sulfide backbone, offered unfilled and as GF30, GF30-IM, GF40, GF65 mineral, CF30 and bearing grades (Fortron, Ryton, Tedur, DIC PPS). Unfilled stock runs 1.35 g/cm3, 78 MPa tensile strength, 5 % elongation and 3.8 GPa modulus, with about 220 °C continuous service, inherent UL 94 V-0 flammability, low moisture uptake and near-universal chemical resistance below 200 °C. The limits are brittleness and low notched impact, especially unfilled, poor UV and weathering behaviour, and lower CTI than PBT or PA; the high melt temperature and abrasive glass fillers wear tooling and cutters. PPS has a density of 1.35 g/cm³ (0.0488 lb/in³), heavier than 75% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 88°C (190 °F). PPS has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 78 MPa (11.3 ksi) — stronger than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi).
What is PPS used for?
- Pump housings and impellers
- Valve seats
- Electrical connectors
- Coil bobbins
- Automotive under-hood components
- Airflow sensor housings
- Sensor and switch housings
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 220°C (428 °F), better than 89% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.03%, better than 88% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi), better than 85% of polymer grades
- High strength — 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), better than 84% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 79% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.35 g/cm³ (0.0488 lb/in³), worse than 75% of polymer grades
PPS properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled condition; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PPS has a density of 1.35 g/cm³ (0.0488 lb/in³), heavier than 75% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 88°C (190 °F).
Mechanical15
PPS has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 78 MPa (11.3 ksi) — stronger than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi).
Thermal10
PPS is rated for continuous service to 220°C (428 °F). It conducts heat at 0.29 W/m·K (0.168 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 52 µm/m·K (28.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PPS is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 18 kV/mm (457.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 91% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PPS takes about 115 MJ of energy and emits 6.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.
Manufacturability7
PPS's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. PPS is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PPS
Is PPS easy to machine?
Machines like a rigid, notch-sensitive thermoplastic — use sharp polished-flute carbide (PCD for glass/mineral-filled), high speed, light feed, air or mist cooling, and generous radii to avoid chipping.
Can PPS be welded?
No solvent bonding; join by ultrasonic, IR/hot-plate, laser or spin welding with matched fillers, or use epoxy adhesive after plasma/flame surface activation.
Can PPS be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3 h at 150 °C, mold at 310–330 °C melt with 130–150 °C tool for full crystallinity; hardened, wear-resistant tool steel and vented gates are mandatory because glass-filled PPS is very abrasive and outgasses.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PPS. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better60 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Not Recommend15 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Better30 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | 1.5 – 2.2 % |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | 1 – 3.5 mm |
| Recommended draft | 1.5 ° |
| Pre-drying | 80 °C for 4 h |
| UV resistance | Fair |
PPS 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 fiberchopped E-glass in reinforced grades (GF30/GF40) | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| mineral filler (CaCO3 / talc / wollastonused with glass in 65% total-filler grades | 0 – 45 | 0 |
| carbon fiberconductive / high-stiffness grades | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| PTFE / graphite / MoS2bearing and wear grades | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| pigment, nucleant, coupling agent, heat typical additive package | 0 – 3 | 1 |
| poly(1,4-phenylene sulfide) resinrepeat unit (C6H4S)n; polymerized from p-dichlorobenzene and sodium sulfide in NMP | balance |
What surface finishes work on PPS?
Accepts pad printing, laser marking and vacuum metallizing; needs plasma or corona pre-treatment for paint adhesion, and unfilled grades polish to a semi-gloss but darken under UV.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Injection Molding Coating
Organic Coating
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PPS in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D4507D4459
- Trade names
- FortronTedurRytonTechtronDIC PPS
- Also called
- Polyphenylene Sulfide
How much does PPS cost?
PPS is a specialty-cost polymer ($$$$$), pricier than about 98% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PPS — frequently asked
What is PPS used for?
PPS is typically used for pump housings and impellers, valve seats, electrical connectors, coil bobbins, automotive under-hood components and airflow sensor housings. In short: strong chemical resistant.
What is the yield strength of PPS?
PPS has a typical yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 78 MPa (11.3 ksi) — stronger than 84% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PPS easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines like a rigid, notch-sensitive thermoplastic — use sharp polished-flute carbide (PCD for glass/mineral-filled), high speed, light feed, air or mist cooling, and generous radii to avoid chipping.
Can PPS be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). No solvent bonding; join by ultrasonic, IR/hot-plate, laser or spin welding with matched fillers, or use epoxy adhesive after plasma/flame surface activation.
What surface finishes work on PPS?
Accepts pad printing, laser marking and vacuum metallizing; needs plasma or corona pre-treatment for paint adhesion, and unfilled grades polish to a semi-gloss but darken under UV.
Can PPS be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3 h at 150 °C, mold at 310–330 °C melt with 130–150 °C tool for full crystallinity; hardened, wear-resistant tool steel and vented gates are mandatory because glass-filled PPS is very abrasive and outgasses.
What is the maximum service temperature of PPS?
PPS is rated for continuous use to about 220°C (428 °F), and briefly to 260°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PPS cost?
PPS is a specialty-cost polymer ($$$$$), pricier than about 98% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in PPS?
Yes — PPS is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Fortron PPS product and processing data — Celanese (2023)
- Ryton PPS compounds datasheets — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2022)
- Techtron / Techtron HPV PPS stock shapes — Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PPS ISO 10350 datasets — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 / ASTM D256 / UL 94 test methods — ISO / ASTM / UL (2019)
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.