PPSU · certified grade · default condition
PPSU Medical Grade
Properties of the Medical Grade condition, compared with the other PPSU grades.
Pick for surgical instrument handles, sterilization trays, dental and baby-bottle parts needing repeated autoclaving plus biocompatibility documentation.
What is PPSU Medical Grade?
PPSU Medical Grade is PPSU in a Medical Grade certified grade — pick for surgical instrument handles, sterilization trays, dental and baby-bottle parts needing repeated autoclaving plus biocompatibility documentation. PPSU Medical Grade has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 77% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 70% and the elastic modulus is 2.3 GPa (0.339 Msi). PPSU Medical Grade has a density of 1.29 g/cm³ (0.0466 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 220°C (428 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 0.35 W/m·K (0.202 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), better than 85% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 90/100, better than 81% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 78% of polymer grades
- High strength — 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), better than 77% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 86% of polymer grades
PPSU Medical Grade properties
Typical room-temperature values for PPSU Medical Grade — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every PPSU grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical5
PPSU Medical Grade has a density of 1.29 g/cm³ (0.0466 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 220°C (428 °F).
Mechanical16
PPSU Medical Grade has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 77% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 70% and the elastic modulus is 2.3 GPa (0.339 Msi).
Thermal11
PPSU Medical Grade 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 55 µm/m·K (30.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PPSU Medical Grade is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 15 kV/mm (381 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 81% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PPSU Medical Grade takes about 145 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PPSU Medical Grade's machinability is good (62/100, better than 59% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other PPSU grades and fills
PPSU is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the PPSU overview.
- Medical GradeDefaultPick for surgical instrument handles, sterilization trays, dental and baby-bottle parts needing repeated autoclaving plus biocompatibility documentation.70 MPa tensile
- GF30Highest stiffness and lowest thermal expansion PPSU grade for structural brackets and hot-fluid manifolds; brittle relative to unfilled PPSU and abrasive to tooling.130 MPa tensile
- GF20Pick when stiffness, creep resistance and dimensional stability matter more than impact toughness or transparency.110 MPa tensile
- NATBaseline transparent-amber grade for hot-water fittings, aircraft interior parts and tough housings where no filler or medical certification is needed.70 MPa tensile
Working with PPSU Medical Grade
Is PPSU easy to machine?
Machines like a tough amorphous thermoplastic — sharp positive-rake carbide tools, high speed, moderate feed and generous air or water-soluble coolant; avoid petroleum-based cutting oils and anneal (≈160 °C) before finishing to prevent stress cracking.
Can PPSU be welded?
Joins well by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR and vibration welding, plus solvent bonding with cyclohexanone-type systems; not fusion-weldable by metal-style methods and adhesive joints need plasma or abrasive surface prep.
Can PPSU be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3–4 h at 135–150 °C to <0.05 % moisture, mold at 355–390 °C melt with 135–165 °C tools; thermoforming and extrusion are practical above Tg, and thick sections should be annealed to relieve molded-in stress.
What surface finishes work on PPSU?
Takes fine polishing to a transparent amber finish, accepts pad printing and laser marking; paint or metallize only after plasma/flame treatment, and expect yellowing without a UV-stabilized topcoat.
PPSU 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 fiberOnly in GF20 / GF30 reinforced variants | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| pigment / additive packageColorants, mold release; medical grades are formulated for ISO 10993 compliance | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| polyphenylsulfone repeat unit (bisphenolAmorphous polyaryl ether sulfone; no halogen or added flame retardant in natural grade | balance | — |
PPSU Medical Grade — frequently asked
What is PPSU Medical Grade used for?
PPSU Medical Grade is typically used for medical sterilisation trays and cases, surgical instrument handles, sterilizer components, baby bottles and food-contact hardware, aircraft interior parts and hot-water plumbing fittings and manifolds. In short: durable chemical resistant.
What is the yield strength of PPSU Medical Grade?
PPSU Medical Grade has a typical yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 77% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PPSU Medical Grade easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 59% of polymer grades). Machines like a tough amorphous thermoplastic — sharp positive-rake carbide tools, high speed, moderate feed and generous air or water-soluble coolant; avoid petroleum-based cutting oils and anneal (≈160 °C) before finishing to prevent stress cracking.
Can PPSU Medical Grade be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Joins well by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR and vibration welding, plus solvent bonding with cyclohexanone-type systems; not fusion-weldable by metal-style methods and adhesive joints need plasma or abrasive surface prep.
What surface finishes work on PPSU Medical Grade?
Takes fine polishing to a transparent amber finish, accepts pad printing and laser marking; paint or metallize only after plasma/flame treatment, and expect yellowing without a UV-stabilized topcoat.
Can PPSU Medical Grade be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3–4 h at 135–150 °C to <0.05 % moisture, mold at 355–390 °C melt with 135–165 °C tools; thermoforming and extrusion are practical above Tg, and thick sections should be annealed to relieve molded-in stress.
What is the maximum service temperature of PPSU Medical Grade?
PPSU Medical Grade is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F), and briefly to 220°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in PPSU Medical Grade?
Yes — PPSU Medical Grade 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
- Radel R PPSU Resin — Design and Processing Guide — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2023)
- Ultrason P (PPSU) Product Brochure — BASF (2022)
- TECASON P natural — PPSU stock shapes — Ensinger (2023)
- CAMPUS Plastics — PPSU material records — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- ASTM D6394 Standard Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP) Materials — ASTM International (2022)
- ISO 10993-1 Biological evaluation of medical devices — ISO (2018)
- Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers and Composites — sulfone polymers chapter — McGraw-Hill (2006)
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.