TECATRON® Plate

TECATRON® is unfilled polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), bought for chemical resistance and dimensional stability rather than for strength. Ensinger's own position is that PPS has a broader range of chemical resistance than PEEK and that only PTFE tops it, that no known solvent dissolves it below 392°F, and that it is the high-performance plastic with the most dimensional stability under water - uptake is 0.01% in 24 hours. Since PEEK costs more, PPS is often the better buy where PEEK's extra properties are not needed. Tensile strength is 13,700 psi at yield on an 836,700 psi tensile modulus, flexural strength is 20,400 psi, compressive strength is 19,000 psi at 10% strain and hardness is Rockwell R124.

It is machined into pump and valve parts, seals, gears, slide bearings and bushings, semiconductor CMP retaining and clamp rings, IC test sockets, connectors, contact rails and inspection fixtures for chemical, mechanical, precision, electrical, vacuum and food engineering. The melting point is 536°F, long-term service is 338°F with 500°F intermittent, the dynamic coefficient of friction against steel is 0.24, dielectric strength is 450 V/mil and flammability is UL 94 V-0. Low residual stress in the stock shape allows higher speeds and feeds with fewer tolerance problems and less surface burning. Three real limitations: elongation at break is only 2.5% and Izod impact 0.62 ft-lb/in, so it is brittle next to PEEK and cracks rather than yields - avoid sharp internal corners; the wear factor is a poor 540 × 10⁻¹⁰, so loaded sliding duty wants a filled grade; and heat deflection temperature is only 220°F at 264 psi despite the high melting point. The uncoloured grade is also sensitive to UV.