Polysulfone Tubing: Versatility based on resistance

PBS Plastics manufactures a wide range of high-performing Polysulfone Tubing for medical device, food & beverage, filtration, household, plumbing, electrical, construction and automotive industries.

Polysulfone (PSU) (PSF) is a semitransparent, heat-resistant, thermoplastic offering excellent mechanical, electrical and chemical resistance. Polysulfones have outstanding resistance to heat and oxidation, hydrolysis resistance to aqueous and alkaline media and good electrical properties. Brand names include (but are not limited to): Ensifone®, Udel®, Sustason®.

Versatility created by advantageous combinations of material properties makes Polysulfone ideal for applications in:

Machined Part crafted from Polysulfone Tubing

Heat Resistance of Polysulfone

Polysulfone has one of the highest service temperatures among all melt-processable thermoplastics. It retains properties between −100 °C and +200 °C (-150°F to +392°F). As a result, the plastic itself takes on the role of a flame retardant, thus avoiding any compromise of strength as would usually result from the addition of flame retardants to a thermoplastic.

While excelling in many fluid handling applications, Polysulfone has successfully replaced brass in pressurized hot water applications for over 20 years. Exhibiting low creep under a sustained load at elevated temperatures, it can withstand continuous exposure to hot, chlorinated water, for instance.

In the food industry, the wide working temperature range of Polysulfone allows components to go from a deep freezer directly to a steam table or microwave oven. In addition, non-stick surface minimizes food wastage and enables easy cleaning.

For medical applications, Polysulfones (and polyetherimide (PEI)) are the only amorphous thermoplastics that can withstand repeated steam sterilization without substantial degradation of properties. Therefore, polysulfone components are ideal for reusable personal protective equipment, heart valve sizers, and reusable surgical components.

With resistance to combustion and self-extinguishing properties, Polysulfone Tubing is a preferred choice for vehicle and aircraft components.

Strength of Polysulfone

Mechanically, Polysulfone has high compaction resistance and high dimensional stability, maintaining these properties even when exposed to high temperatures. As a result, these qualities make Polysulfone Tubing an excellent choice for high pressure plumbing and fluid processes.

Chemical Resistance of Polysulfone

Polysulfone is highly resistant to mineral acids, alkali, and electrolytes, in pH ranging from 2 to 13. It is resistant to oxidizing agents, therefore it can be cleaned by bleaches. Furthermore, it is also resistant to surfactants and hydrocarbon oils.

Polysulfones, polycarbonates and acrylics offer similar strength and rigidity properties. However, acrylics or polycarbonates do not offer comprehensive chemical resistance, nor are they resistant to hydrolysis (chemical attack by water). This is particularly true at elevated temperatures, which accelerates chemical degradation of polymers. Since medical devices are commonly exposed to lipids, plasticizers, isopropyl alcohol, various drug related chemicals, and water, Polysulfone Tubing becomes a preferred choice.

Additional Advantages of Combined Properties of Polysulfone

Polysulfones are chemically inert, highly biocompatible, and can be sterilized. These properties make them highly suitable for medical/surgical device and food/beverage contact applications. Many grades can withstand long-term exposure to hot chlorinated water and have received approval for food contact and drinking water.

As an excellent material candidate for safety and regulatory-driven applications, such as medical devices, water filtration systems and kitchenware, FDA-, NSF- and USP Class VI- compliant grades of Polysulfone are available for extrusion of tubing.

Thanks to its mechanical strength, Polysulfone tubing is often used in replacing polycarbonate when higher temperatures, improved chemical resistance or autoclaving is required for healthcare applications.

Summary of Useful Characteristics of Polysulfone Tubing:

• • • • • Excellent Thermal Stability: very high long-term service temperature and
          constant properties throughout a broad temperature range
        • High Toughness and Mechanical Strength 
        • Good Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance  
        • High Heat Deflection temperature, 174°C (345°F) 
        • Combustion Resistance, Self-extinguishing
        • Excellent Dimensional Stability 
        • Low Shrinkage 
        • Low Creep
        • Good Electrical Insulation properties
        • Extremely High Resistance to Hydrolysis
        • High Chemical Resistance
        • Highly Biocompatible
        • High Resistance to all kinds of Radiation
        • Transparency 

Please reach out to PBS Plastics, Inc. for your Polysulfone Tubing needs.

We offer extruded tubing in diameters from 1/8” up to 6” with wall thicknesses from 0.025”-0.500”.

Our custom extrusion expertise and personalized customer service ensure that we are flexible to meet your expectations for quality, consistency and lead times.