PPS · grade · default condition
PPS Unfilled
Properties of the Unfilled condition, compared with the other PPS grades.
Pick when machining stock shapes, when isotropic shrinkage and low abrasiveness matter, or for thin dielectric parts; accept low stiffness and low impact.
What is PPS Unfilled?
PPS Unfilled is PPS in the Unfilled grade — pick when machining stock shapes, when isotropic shrinkage and low abrasiveness matter, or for thin dielectric parts; accept low stiffness and low impact. PPS Unfilled has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 78 MPa (11.3 ksi) — stronger than 83% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi). PPS Unfilled has a density of 1.35 g/cm³ (0.0488 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 88°C (190 °F).
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 84% of polymer grades
- High strength — 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), better than 83% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 80% of polymer grades
PPS Unfilled properties
Typical room-temperature values for PPS Unfilled — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every PPS grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical5
PPS Unfilled has a density of 1.35 g/cm³ (0.0488 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 88°C (190 °F).
Mechanical15
PPS Unfilled has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 78 MPa (11.3 ksi) — stronger than 83% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi).
Thermal10
PPS Unfilled 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 79% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 52 µm/m·K (28.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PPS Unfilled 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 Unfilled 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 Unfilled'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.
Other PPS grades and fills
PPS is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the PPS overview.
- UnfilledDefaultPick when machining stock shapes, when isotropic shrinkage and low abrasiveness matter, or for thin dielectric parts; accept low stiffness and low impact.78 MPa tensile
- CF30Use where high specific stiffness, low CTE, static dissipation or fuel/EMI-related conductivity is required.195 MPa tensile
- GF40Highest-strength/stiffness standard grade for structural under-hood, pump and valve parts; most anisotropic warpage and most abrasive to tooling.190 MPa tensile
- GF30The general-purpose reinforced injection grade: good balance of strength, toughness and flow for connectors, pump housings and covers.150 MPa tensile
- GF65 (Mineral)Choose for maximum dimensional stability, lowest shrinkage/warpage and lowest cost per litre in encapsulation, bobbins and precision electrical housings.130 MPa tensile
- GF30-IMChoose when snap-fits, press-fit inserts, thermal shock or vibration would crack standard brittle PPS, at the cost of stiffness and HDT.120 MPa tensile
- Bearing GradePick for unlubricated sliding parts — bushings, wear pads, seal faces, thrust washers — running hot or in aggressive fluids.85 MPa tensile
Working with PPS Unfilled
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.
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.
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 | — |
PPS Unfilled — frequently asked
What is PPS Unfilled used for?
PPS Unfilled 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 Unfilled?
PPS Unfilled has a typical yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 78 MPa (11.3 ksi) — stronger than 83% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is PPS Unfilled 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 Unfilled 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 Unfilled?
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 Unfilled 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 Unfilled?
PPS Unfilled 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in PPS Unfilled?
Yes — PPS Unfilled 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.