- Crystalline PPS
- PPS is a high-crystallinity engineering polymer · it prints in a mostly-crystalline state directly off the bed (unlike PET which is amorphous as-printed). The 125°C anneal sharpens dimensional consistency through stress relief rather than driving a phase change.
- Anisotropy
- The dependence of a material's properties on direction. In FDM-printed CF composites, fibres orient along the print head's path, making the part stronger in XY than Z. PPS-CF anisotropy is 1.86× tensile XY/Z · highest in our composite range.
- Annealing
- Controlled heat treatment after printing (125°C for 16 hours for PPS-CF). Unlike PET composites (where annealing drives a phase change), PPS is mostly crystalline as-printed · the anneal is stress relief that sharpens dimensional consistency and locks the full published HDT. Costs negligible shrinkage (~0.1% XY, 0% Z).
- Aromatic backbone
- The PPS polymer chain contains a rigid aromatic (phenyl) ring connected through sulfide linkages. The rigidity of the aromatic ring combined with the strong, thermally-stable sulfur bond is the source of PPS's exceptional HDT, chemical resistance, and inherent V-0 flame rating. Very different from the flexible aliphatic chains of nylon (which have no rings) and from the polar ester linkages of PET.
- Carbon-fibre content
- The percentage of chopped carbon fibre by weight in the filament. PPS-CF10 is 10% · the same loading as PA12-CF (10%), below PA612-CF (15%) and PET-CF (17%). More fibre adds stiffness but also anisotropy and brittleness · the 10% loading is a balance between mechanical performance and processability.
- Equilibrium water absorption
- The percentage moisture pickup at indefinite immersion / saturated humidity. PPS-CF: 0.225% (lowest in our engineering composite range). PA12-CF: 1.5%. PA612-CF: 2.2%. PA6-GF: 3.33%.
- Sulfide linkage
- The -S- chemical bond (sulfur bridging two carbon atoms) that joins repeat phenyl units in PPS. Thermally stable, broadly inert, and almost completely non-polar · the source of PPS's 0.225% equilibrium water absorption (lower than the polar ester linkage of PET or the hydrogen-bonded amide linkage of nylon).
- FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling)
- Filament-extrusion 3D printing. Distinct from SLS/MJF (powder-bed) and SLA (resin). PPS-CF prints on FDM machines with a hardened nozzle at 310-350°C, hot bed (80-90°C), room-temperature chamber.
- Heat deflection temperature (HDT)
- The temperature at which a loaded specimen deflects a standard amount under a defined load (ISO 75). HDT @ 0.45 MPa is the lower-load value (cosmetic service ceiling); HDT @ 1.8 MPa is the structural ceiling. PPS-CF: 252.5°C / 133°C (annealed) · the highest HDT of any composite in our range.
- Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
- A semi-crystalline aromatic polysulfide · the same chemistry as industrial chemical-plant piping, aerospace fluid-handling, and oil-and-gas downhole tools. Different polymer family from the engineering nylons (polyamides) and the polyester composites (PET-CF/PET-GF). Aromatic sulfide linkages absorb almost no water and provide broad chemical resistance up to 200°C.
- Semi-crystalline PPS
- The natural state of PPS · the polymer holds high crystallinity (typically 40-65%) directly off the print bed. Opaque, high stiffness, HDT 252.5°C @ 0.45 MPa, full chemical resistance · the as-printed and post-anneal state of PPS-CF in service.
- Tensile strength
- Stress at which a specimen yields or breaks in pure tension (ISO 527). Reported in MPa. PPS-CF annealed: 59.4 MPa XY, 32.0 MPa Z. Anisotropy 1.86×.
- UL94
- An Underwriters Laboratories standard for plastic flame retardancy. HB (horizontal burn) is the lowest rating; V-0, V-1, V-2 are vertical-burn ratings (more stringent · V-0 is the most demanding common rating). PPS-CF10 stocked grade: V-0 at 1.5mm · the highest-temperature V-0 grade we offer.