PPSU-GF30
ASTM D6401
PPSU-GF30 is polyphenylsulfone reinforced with about 30% short glass fiber, specified under ASTM D6401.
Reference datasheet — PPSU-GF30 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 GF30 condition
PPSU-GF30 grades and fills
PPSU-GF30 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. GF30 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass + PTFE lubricated wear/bearing grade | Choose for sliding, sterilizable bushings and guides where a low friction coefficient is needed with the stiffness of glass fiber. | 100 | 2 | 86 Shore D | |
Extruded stock shape (rod / plate) for machining | Choose when the part is machined from semi-finished stock; slightly lower strength and more random fiber orientation than molded parts. | 110 | 3 | 88 Shore D | |
Black pigmented / UV-stabilized | Use where sunlight, cosmetic uniformity or light shielding matters; carbon-black pigment masks fiber bloom and slows yellowing. | 122 | 2.4 | 89 Shore D | |
GF30Default 30% glass-fiber reinforced, natural, injection-molding grade | Standard structural grade: pick it for stiff, steam-sterilizable molded parts where unfilled PPSU flexes too much. | 125 | 2.5 | 90 Shore D | |
Medical / sterilizable grade | Pick for reusable surgical and dental hardware needing biocompatibility documentation plus 1000+ autoclave cycles. | 125 | 2.5 | 89 Shore D |
What is PPSU-GF30?
PPSU-GF30 is polyphenylsulfone reinforced with about 30% short glass fiber, specified under ASTM D6401. It keeps the base resin's toughness and hydrolysis resistance under repeated steam sterilization while adding structural stiffness at 125 MPa tensile strength and 9 GPa modulus, and is offered as molded parts plus GF30-EX extruded stock and MED, BK and PTFE-lubricated variants. Elongation is 2.5% and the filled resin is notch-sensitive, so sharp internal corners and thin ribbed sections need attention; the fiber-textured surface cannot be polished to optical quality. Unfilled PPSU remains the choice for maximum impact strength, while PESU-GF30 offers higher service temperature. PPSU-GF30 has a density of 1.56 g/cm³ (0.0564 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 220°C (428 °F). PPSU-GF30 has a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi), stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 9 GPa (1.31 Msi).
What is PPSU-GF30 used for?
- Surgical instrument handles
- Reusable medical trays
- Plumbing and fluid handling fittings
- High-impact structural components
Advantages
- Stiff — 9 GPa (1.31 Msi), better than 93% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.35 W/m·K (0.202 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.35%, better than 86% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), better than 85% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.56 g/cm³ (0.0564 lb/in³), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 2.5%, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 83% of polymer grades
PPSU-GF30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PPSU-GF30-GF30; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PPSU-GF30 has a density of 1.56 g/cm³ (0.0564 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 220°C (428 °F).
Mechanical14
PPSU-GF30 has a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi), stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 9 GPa (1.31 Msi).
Thermal11
PPSU-GF30 is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 0.35 W/m·K (0.202 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 22 µm/m·K (12.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PPSU-GF30 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 19 kV/mm (482.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 56% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PPSU-GF30 takes about 160 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 85% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PPSU-GF30's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
Common Calculations4
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. PPSU-GF30 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PPSU-GF30
Is PPSU-GF30 easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp polycrystalline-diamond or carbide tooling, high speed and light feeds; glass is abrasive so expect fast edge wear, and avoid sharp internal corners because the filled resin is notch-sensitive — anneal near 190 °C to relieve stress before tight-tolerance finishing.
Can PPSU-GF30 be welded?
Ultrasonic, hot-plate and IR welding work but joint strength is limited by the fiber-poor weld line; solvent bonding uses chlorinated/aprotic solvents which can also stress-crack the part, so mechanical fastening or overmolded inserts are usually preferred.
Can PPSU-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 350–390 °C melt with 135–165 °C tools, dry to <0.02 % moisture (3–4 h at 150 °C), use generous gates and hardened wear-resistant mold steels; shrinkage is low (0.2–0.45 %) and anisotropic, so anticipate warp in thin ribbed sections.
PPSU-GF30 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 fibershort E-glass, sized for sulfone matrix | 28 – 32 | 30 |
| pigment / processing additivescolorant, release aid; absent in natural transparent-tan grades | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) resinbiphenyl-linked polyaryl ether sulfone, amorphous | ≥ 68 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PPSU-GF30?
Accepts pad printing, laser marking and adhesive bonding after plasma or abrasive activation; the fiber-textured surface cannot be polished to optical quality and no plating or anodizing is applicable.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PPSU-GF30 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D6401
- Also called
- PPSU 30GF
How much does PPSU-GF30 cost?
PPSU-GF30 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.
PPSU-GF30 — frequently asked
What is PPSU-GF30 used for?
PPSU-GF30 is typically used for surgical instrument handles, reusable medical trays, plumbing and fluid handling fittings and high-impact structural components. In short: toughest filled sulfone; repeated steam sterilization; hydrolysis-resistant structural grade.
What is the tensile strength of PPSU-GF30?
PPSU-GF30 has a typical tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is PPSU-GF30 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp polycrystalline-diamond or carbide tooling, high speed and light feeds; glass is abrasive so expect fast edge wear, and avoid sharp internal corners because the filled resin is notch-sensitive — anneal near 190 °C to relieve stress before tight-tolerance finishing.
Can PPSU-GF30 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Ultrasonic, hot-plate and IR welding work but joint strength is limited by the fiber-poor weld line; solvent bonding uses chlorinated/aprotic solvents which can also stress-crack the part, so mechanical fastening or overmolded inserts are usually preferred.
What surface finishes work on PPSU-GF30?
Accepts pad printing, laser marking and adhesive bonding after plasma or abrasive activation; the fiber-textured surface cannot be polished to optical quality and no plating or anodizing is applicable.
Can PPSU-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 350–390 °C melt with 135–165 °C tools, dry to <0.02 % moisture (3–4 h at 150 °C), use generous gates and hardened wear-resistant mold steels; shrinkage is low (0.2–0.45 %) and anisotropic, so anticipate warp in thin ribbed sections.
What is the maximum service temperature of PPSU-GF30?
PPSU-GF30 is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F), and briefly to 210°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PPSU-GF30 cost?
PPSU-GF30 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
- Radel PPSU glass-reinforced grade datasheets — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2023)
- CAMPUS Plastics — PPSU-GF30 ISO 10350 datasets — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Sultron / Duratron PPSU stock shapes technical data — Ensinger / Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ASTM D6394 — Standard Specification for Sulfone Plastics — ASTM (2022)
- ISO 10350-1 / ISO 527 / ISO 75 test methods for plastics — ISO (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.