Polysulfone (PSU) is a high-performance amorphous thermoplastic offering an exceptional combination of thermal stability, toughness, and dimensional control. PSU plastic is the foundational member of the sulfone thermoplastic family and is widely specified for medical devices, plumbing components, food-processing equipment, and industrial applications where reliable performance at elevated temperatures and resistance to hydrolysis are required over long service periods. Ready Plastics stocks PSU sheet and rod in standard sizes for immediate precision machining into high-performance components.
PSU provides strong mechanical performance across a wide service temperature range while maintaining good toughness and rigidity. Its resistance to hydrolysis and retention of properties after repeated exposure to hot water and steam make PSU material well suited for autoclave-sterilized medical instruments, surgical trays, and hospital fluid-management hardware. Good electrical insulation properties and low moisture absorption contribute to consistent dimensional stability — a key advantage for precision-machined parts that must hold close tolerances over years of service in humid or wet environments. PSU sheet and rod also find application in membrane filtration housings, plumbing fittings, and laboratory equipment where transparency, toughness, and resistance to aqueous media combine as design requirements.
Machining and fabrication. PSU machines cleanly on conventional CNC mills, lathes, and drills using standard carbide tooling. Moderate cutting speeds, positive-rake geometries, and good chip clearance produce smooth surface finishes and accurate tolerances. The amorphous structure eliminates the anisotropic behavior common in semi-crystalline polymers, simplifying part programming and fixturing for complex profiles. PSU can be bonded with adhesives or solvent-based joining methods for assembled structures. It is compatible with a range of industrial cleaning agents and aqueous chemical environments; consult the datasheet to verify compatibility with specific solvents or concentrated acids before specifying.
Sulfone family comparison. PSU is the baseline sulfone grade — it offers solid thermal performance, good toughness, and hydrolytic stability at the most accessible cost within the family. When the application demands higher impact resistance, superior toughness, or greater service temperature, PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) is the appropriate step up and provides enhanced hydrolytic stability for the most aggressive sterilization environments. PSU remains the preferred selection where its thermal and mechanical performance envelope is sufficient and overall material value is important to the design.
