Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) sheet is an amorphous thermoplastic that has very high resistance to to heat. One of the main applications is in trays used for sterilizing medical instruments as it is able to withstand repeated steam sterilization cycles.
Polyphenylsulfone is commonly referred to as PPSU. The resin is manufactured by a number of companies and marketed under their trade-names. The main ones are:
- Solvay – Radel
- BASF – Ultrason P
- Mitsubishi – Sultron
Solvay is the market leader in the PPSU resin market but both the other two producers listed above make excellent product.
PPSU sheet
In addition to injection molded products, PPSU can be converted into sheet form and sold. There are two broad types of PPSU sheet products, opaque and transparent sheet.
1) Opaque PPSU sheet
Opaque PPSU sheet is typically sold in black or natural colors (although other colors are available). It is often produced by pressing and heating the resin between in large polished metal molds. The sheet is often sold in thicknesses of between 0.5″ and 3.5″. The material is marketed as mainly as generic PPSU, although trade-names are used.
2) Transparent PPSU sheet
Transparent PPSU sheet is typically sold in either smoke tint or yellow/orange tint (although other colors are available). It is mainly produced by sheet extrusion and is offered in thicknesses of 2mm to 8mm (0.08″ – 0.31″). Having spoken to a number of users of this type of sheet, suppliers and end-users predominantly refer to this sheet by the Solvay brand-name Radel. Some users do not even know that the material is PPSU. This situation shows the dominant position that Solvay has in the PPSU transparent sheet market.
Producing transparent extruded PPSU sheet is a specialist process, with only limited manufacturers. The limited number of manufacturers is because specialist extrusion lines are needed as PPSU has a very high melt point. The limited size of the market and high capital cost of equipment often prevents entry of new suppliers.
Product from HighLine
HighLine is now starting to stock and market transparent Polyphenylsulfone PPSU sheet in the thickness range of 2mm to 8mm. This product will match or exceed the performance of much of he transparent PPSU sheet that is currently marketed as Radel sheet in the market. While we are in the process of stocking PPSU transparent sheets, we would welcome discussions with users about their technical and volume requirements.
Although HighLine does not directly produce or stock opaque PPSU sheet, we can provide technical advice on this material and refer you to high quality producers.