PES Veradel: Polyethersulfone Transparent High-Temp Engineering Polymer
Published: 2026-05-27
Polyethersulfone (PES), commercially known as Solvay Veradel or BASF Ultrason E, is an amorphous high-temperature engineering thermoplastic distinguished by its combination of natural transparency (light amber, translucent in thin sections),...
Polyethersulfone (PES), commercially known as Solvay Veradel or BASF Ultrason E, is an amorphous high-temperature engineering thermoplastic distinguished by its combination of natural transparency (light amber, translucent in thin sections), excellent dimensional stability, and outstanding resistance to hot water and steam—making it a preferred material for medical sterilization trays, dairy/food processing components, and hot-water plumbing manifolds. Its glass transition temperature of 225°C provides a useful continuous service range of 180°C, bridging the gap between polysulfone (PSU, 160°C) and PEEK (260°C).
PES offers superior hydrolytic stability—it withstands repeated steam autoclave cycles (134°C saturated steam) with minimal property degradation, a critical requirement for reusable medical devices. It also exhibits inherent flame retardancy (UL94 V-0 at 0.8 mm) without halogen additives. However, PES has poor resistance to polar organic solvents (ketones, esters, chlorinated solvents)—exposure to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone, or methylene chloride will cause stress cracking. PES also has relatively high melt viscosity, requiring robust injection molding machines with high injection pressure capability. Drying at 150°C for 4 hours to <0.02% moisture is essential before processing.
Technical Properties
| Density | 1.37 g/cm³ |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 85 MPa |
| Melting Point | N/A (Amorphous, Tg 225°C) |
| Shrinkage Rate | 0.6-0.7% |
| Flexural Modulus | 2.9 GPa |
| Hdt | 204 °C at 1.82 MPa |
| Continuous Service Temp | 180 °C |
Engineering Tool: Shrinkage & Cost Estimator
Calculate part weight, mold cavity dimensions accounting for shrinkage, and material cost — all locally in your browser.
Equivalents & Cross-References
| Equivalent / Alternate | Action |
|---|---|
| Solvay Veradel | |
| BASF Ultrason E | |
| Sumitomo SumikaExcel PES |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PES preferred over polycarbonate (PC) for medical sterilizable parts?
Polycarbonate has a glass transition of only 147°C and undergoes significant embrittlement and yellowing after 50-100 autoclave cycles at 134°C—the amorphous structure hydrolyzes, reducing molecular weight and impact resistance. PES (Tg 225°C) withstands 1000+ autoclave cycles with minimal property change because its sulfone backbone (-SO₂-) is inherently hydrolysis-resistant. Additionally, PES meets the ISO 10993 biocompatibility standard for prolonged patient contact (>30 days), while PC is generally limited to short-term contact (<24 hours). The tradeoff: PES costs approximately 3-5× more than medical-grade PC and requires higher processing temperatures (340-380°C vs 280-310°C for PC).
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References & Industry Standards
- ASTM International. Standard Specifications for Engineering Plastics & Thermoplastics. astm.org
- UL Prospector. Plastics & Elastomers Material Database. ulprospector.com
- MatWeb. Material Property Data for Engineering Thermoplastics. matweb.com
- ISO 1043. Plastics — Symbols and Abbreviated Terms. iso.org