PSU-GF30
ASTM D6394
PSU-GF30 is polysulfone reinforced with about 30% short glass fiber, specified under ASTM D6394.
Reference datasheet — PSU-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
PSU-GF30 grades and fills
PSU-GF30 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. GF30 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GF30 + PTFE lubricated bearing grade | Select for high-temperature sliding parts (bushings, thrust washers, valve seats) where low wear rate matters more than peak strength. | 85 | 2 | 88 HRM | |
GF30 extruded / compression-molded stock shape | Semi-finished stock for machined prototypes and low-volume parts; properties are slightly lower and less anisotropic than molded test bars. | 90 | 3 | 90 HRM | |
Flame-retardant, UL 94 V-0 rated | Pick for electrical housings, connectors and rail/aerospace interiors where a V-0 listing at thin wall is mandatory. | 100 | 2.2 | 93 HRM | |
GF30 black, UV / weather stabilized | Choose for outdoor or lamp-adjacent parts where PSU's natural yellowing and surface chalking must be delayed. | 105 | 2.3 | 92 HRM | |
GF30Default 30% glass-fiber reinforced injection molding grade | Standard choice when maximum stiffness, creep resistance and dimensional stability are needed in molded PSU parts up to ~165 °C. | 108 | 2.5 | 92 HRM | |
Medical / NSF-listed grade for repeated steam sterilization | Use where USP Class VI, ISO 10993, FDA food-contact or NSF-61 potable-water documentation and lot traceability are required. | 108 | 2.5 | 92 HRM |
What is PSU-GF30?
PSU-GF30 is polysulfone reinforced with about 30% short glass fiber, specified under ASTM D6394. At 108 MPa tensile strength and 2.5% elongation it provides the highest stiffness and lowest thermal expansion of the PSU grades, so engineers use it for precision housings and pressurized fluid-handling parts held to tight dimensions at temperature; conditions on file include GF30-FR, GF30-MED, GF30-BK-UV, GF30-PTFE and extruded stock. The trade-offs are reduced impact toughness, a matte fiber-rich surface, and a machinability score of 50 that demands carbide or PCD tooling. Step down to PSU-GF20 for a better stiffness/toughness balance, or move to PESU-GF30 for higher continuous service temperature. PSU-GF30 has a density of 1.49 g/cm³ (0.0538 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 185°C (365 °F). PSU-GF30 has a tensile strength of 108 MPa (15.7 ksi), stronger than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 8.8 GPa (1.28 Msi).
What is PSU-GF30 used for?
- High-temperature electrical parts
- Pump and valve components
- Precision structural housings
- Under-hood automotive parts
Advantages
- Stiff — 8.8 GPa (1.28 Msi), better than 92% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.3%, better than 90% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 165°C (329 °F), better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2.5%, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.49 g/cm³ (0.0538 lb/in³), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 79% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 79% of polymer grades
PSU-GF30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PSU-GF30-GF30; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PSU-GF30 has a density of 1.49 g/cm³ (0.0538 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 185°C (365 °F).
Mechanical14
PSU-GF30 has a tensile strength of 108 MPa (15.7 ksi), stronger than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 8.8 GPa (1.28 Msi).
Thermal11
PSU-GF30 is rated for continuous service to 165°C (329 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 22 µm/m·K (12.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PSU-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 excellent (85/100), better than 65% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PSU-GF30 takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 77% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PSU-GF30's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. PSU-GF30 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PSU-GF30
Is PSU-GF30 easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp carbide or PCD tooling and generous air/mist cooling; the 30% glass load dulls HSS quickly and residual molding stress can craze — anneal near 165 °C before heavy cuts.
Can PSU-GF30 be welded?
Ultrasonic, hot-plate and vibration welding work but joint strength is limited by fiber discontinuity (typ. 40–60% of base); solvent bonding with methylene-chloride-type cements is possible on unstressed joints only.
Can PSU-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (≈3–4 h at 135–150 °C), mold at 340–370 °C melt with 120–160 °C tools; use generous gates and hardened/nitrided steel for abrasion, and expect 0.15–0.45% direction-dependent shrinkage.
PSU-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 chopped E-glass, silane sized for sulfone matrix | 29 – 31 | 30 |
| additives (pigment, heat stabilizer, prograde dependent; FR grades add halogen-free/phosphorus flame retardant | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| bisphenol-A polysulfone (PSU) resinamorphous sulfone polymer matrix, ASTM D6394 type PSU | ≥ 68 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PSU-GF30?
Fiber-rich surface gives a matte, slightly rough finish that resists high gloss; paints and adhesives need corona or abrasion pretreatment, and electroless plating is possible only on specially etched/primed compounds.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PSU-GF30 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D6394
- Also called
- PSU 30GF
How much does PSU-GF30 cost?
PSU-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.
PSU-GF30 — frequently asked
What is PSU-GF30 used for?
PSU-GF30 is typically used for high-temperature electrical parts, pump and valve components, precision structural housings and under-hood automotive parts. In short: stiffest PSU grade; lowest expansion in family; highly abrasive to tooling.
What is the tensile strength of PSU-GF30?
PSU-GF30 has a typical tensile strength of 108 MPa (15.7 ksi) — stronger than 91% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PSU-GF30 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp carbide or PCD tooling and generous air/mist cooling; the 30% glass load dulls HSS quickly and residual molding stress can craze — anneal near 165 °C before heavy cuts.
Can PSU-GF30 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Ultrasonic, hot-plate and vibration welding work but joint strength is limited by fiber discontinuity (typ. 40–60% of base); solvent bonding with methylene-chloride-type cements is possible on unstressed joints only.
What surface finishes work on PSU-GF30?
Fiber-rich surface gives a matte, slightly rough finish that resists high gloss; paints and adhesives need corona or abrasion pretreatment, and electroless plating is possible only on specially etched/primed compounds.
Can PSU-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (≈3–4 h at 135–150 °C), mold at 340–370 °C melt with 120–160 °C tools; use generous gates and hardened/nitrided steel for abrasion, and expect 0.15–0.45% direction-dependent shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of PSU-GF30?
PSU-GF30 is rated for continuous use to about 165°C (329 °F), and briefly to 190°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PSU-GF30 cost?
PSU-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
- ASTM D6394 — Standard Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP) — ASTM International (2022)
- Udel PSU GF-130 / glass-reinforced polysulfone product data — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics datasheets — PSU-GF30 injection molding grades — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- TECASON S stock shape (PSU) technical data — Ensinger (2023)
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.