Thermoformable PPS Sheet

Ensinger/PennFibre has introduced the first line of thermoformable polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) sheet and roll products for applications needing high thermal and chemical resistance and inherent flame retardancy. These PPS products are good candidates for stationary and mobile chemical tanks, underhood automotive parts, interior panels and other large, thin-walled elements in buses, planes and trains.

Ensinger/PennFibre products in this line are based on Fortron PPS from Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese AG, and use several formulations developed for thermoforming. The new line encompasses neat, glass-filled and modified grades containing impact modifiers, tougheners and other ingredients.

The grades are sold as monolayer sheets and rolls in widths to 48 inches (122 cm) and thicknesses between 0.010 and 0.25 inches (0.25 and 6.4 mm). They are available with optional backings of glass fiber, polyester fabric and other materials that create a gluing surface for strong adhesion in multilayer structures.

“Ensinger/PennFibre PPS sheet and roll gives manufacturers a formable, crystalline plastic having an exceptionally high melt point so processing can occur between 550 and 600°F (288 and 315°C) or more,” said Mike Gehrig, General Manager. “We typically work with our customers to provide the exact product they need. We can, for instance, create ribbons slit to widths as narrow as 0.2 inch (5.1 mm), provide a specialized backing or produce parts punched to a needed shape. The thermal performance and inertness of these versatile sheets make them ideal candidates to replace the fluoropolymers used in chemical tank linings and other aggressive environments. We estimate that manufacturers can save 30 percent or more on material costs by sheets fluoropolymer.”

Fortron® PPS is a high-performance material having applications that span a broad range of markets. In addition to its heat and chemical resistance, it offers good electrical properties, high hardness and rigidity at elevated temperature, exacting dimensional stability, inherent flame retardancy and low smoke generation when burned.

For more information, contact Dave Pincin, Ensinger/PennFibre, 2434 Bristol Road, Bensalem, PA, 19020, 800-662-7366 / 215-702-9551, Fax: 215-702- 9552, E-mail: davidp@pennfibre.com, Web: www. pennfibre.com.