A super engineering plastic attracting attention for its excellent resistance to heat and chemicals

Key properties

• Linear PPS
• Mechanical strength
• Chemical resistance
• Good soldering heat resistance
• Heat-shock resistance
• Electrical insulation
• High dimensional accuracy
• Low fuel swelling
• Heat resistance
• Long-term durability

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) was first produced commercially by Phillips Petroleum in the United States in 1973. Demand grew on account of the resin's high heat resistance. However, the material came to be known as a brittle one because of its partially cross-linked structure.

In the 1980s, Kureha succeeded in developing a PPS with a fully linear molecular structure without any cross-linked structure and in 1987, our company formed a business alliance with Kureha and started market development for this new PPS. Linear PPS transformed the existing image of cross-linked PPS, and it is now starting to establish firm foundations as a new type of PPS that does not have an issue with brittleness.

Linear PPS and Cross-linked PPS

The linear PPS represented as DURAFIDE^® PPS possesses the following characteristics compared with cross-linked PPS:

1. Greater elongation and impact strength, producing superior toughness.
2. Low level of ionic impurities which allows it to be applied to fuel cell parts as well as in fields where rigorous electrical properties are required.
3. Excellent thermal stability, facilitating molding and processing.
4. High weld strength and performance in secondary processes such as screwing and press fitting.
5. High degree of whiteness which enables coloring.

Applications are not limited to automotive parts such as lamp sockets and water pumps, or various auto electrical components such as HEV/EV PCUs. DURAFIDE's superior properties are also finding use in mechanical parts for office and AV equipment, and in water-adjacent parts in devices such as water heaters and water mixing valves for baths and basins. DURAFIDE is a polymer with strong growth prospects due to its interchangeability with steel that results from its superior strength and heat resistance.

Raw ingredients and production method

The main raw ingredients of para-dichlorobenzene and sodium sulfide are polymerized in an organic polar solvent to make the PPS polymer.

PPS is generally reinforced with glass fiber or an inorganic filler in order to improve its mechanical and thermal properties. Many grades of PPS are offered in the form of compounds of the polymer with various reinforcing materials.

List of leading grades

Applications

Product information

• Upgraded heat-shock resistance

• Low fuel swelling PPS

• Low-chlorinated PPS material