Materials
High Temperature Polymers
High-heat plastics are materials that resist high temperatures well. We trade production residues and recycled grades of PPS, PES, PEI and PEEK.
Classification
What makes a plastic “high heat”
To classify a plastic as high heat, its Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) must surpass 200 °C at 264 psi (1.8 MPa). It means the plastic part can withstand elevated temperatures without significant loss of mechanical properties.
This criterion ensures the material is suited for:
- Long-term service temperature greater than 150 °C.
- Short-term exposure to temperatures surpassing 250 °C.
This is the core difference with traditional thermoplastics. Under such high-temperature conditions, all other thermoplastics would soften or deform.
Our range
Four polymer families
Even though we focus mainly on these products, we are also interested in other possibilities with numerous other polymers.
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a semi-crystalline, high-temperature engineering thermoplastic. It is a rigid and opaque polymer with a high melting point (280 °C), consisting of para-phenylene units alternating with sulfide linkages.
PPS offers an excellent balance of properties:
- Exceptional mechanical strength
- Dimensional stability
- Electrical insulation properties
- Resistance to flame, chemicals and high temperature
It can be easily processed as its toughness increases at high temperatures. These assets make it a chosen alternative to metals and thermosets, suitable for automotive parts, appliances, electronics and several other applications.
Polysulfones are known for their toughness and stability at high temperatures. Due to the high cost of raw materials and processing, polysulfones are used in specialty applications and often are a superior replacement for polycarbonates.
Three polysulfones are used industrially: polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES) and polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU). They can be used in the temperature range from −100 to +200 °C and are used for electrical equipment, in vehicle construction and in medical technology. Polysulfones have outstanding resistance to heat and oxidation, they are hydrolysis resistant and have good electrical properties.
We carefully select PES regrinds that can be used by compounders.
PEI (Ultem) is an amorphous, amber-to-transparent thermoplastic with characteristics similar to the related plastic PEEK. PEI is a high-strength material which offers excellent chemical resistance and properties suitable for various applications, even for those including steam exposure. PEI can be used for components in the medical and pharmaceutical industry.
PEEK (Victrex) is a workhorse — perhaps the closest to a perfect material, utilised in a wide range of industries and in many different applications. It is known for its impressive durability in severe environments.
Glass and carbon reinforced grades are among the strongest of all thermoplastics, and unfilled grades are highly resistant to some of the most chemically aggressive environments, including high-pressure steam.
Because of its robustness, PEEK is used to fabricate items used in demanding applications, including bearings, piston parts and electrical cable insulation. PEEK is considered an advanced biomaterial used in medical implants.
At a glance
Comparison of the four families
| Polymer | Full name | Character | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPS | PolyPhenyleneSulfide | Semi-crystalline, rigid, melting point 280 °C | Automotive parts, appliances, electronics |
| PES | PolyEtherSulphone | Tough and stable from −100 to +200 °C | Electrical equipment, vehicle construction, medical technology |
| PEI | PolyEtherImide | Amorphous, amber to transparent, steam resistant | Medical and pharmaceutical components |
| PEEK | PolyEtherKetone | Durable in severe environments, chemically resistant | Bearings, piston parts, cable insulation, implants |
Have PPS, PES, PEI or PEEK production waste?
We assess material that can be recycled, resold and reused — including grades outside our core range.