Page 178 - CW E-Magazine (26-11-2024)

Special Report Special Report

Polysulfones–A techno-commercial profi le Table 1: Properties & applications of polysulfones
Property Applications

olysulfones are a family of high- A (BPA) and dichlorodiphenyl sul- coffee makers, and electrical/electronic High-temperature resistance Aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, as they can
performance amorphous thermo- fone. components, and chemical processing withstand continuous use temperatures of up to 180°C and
Pplastic polymers that include equipment. brief exposure up to 250°C.
polysulfone (PSU), polyphenylsulfone Reactions typically are conducted Chemical resistance Resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including acids, bases,
(PPSU), polyetherimide (PEI), and in high-boiling polar solvents like sulfo- PSU can be used to prepare solvents, and oils, making them ideal for use in chemical
polyethersulfone (PESU). According to lane, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), advanced membrane materials. The processing and food & beverage industries.
the polymer typology applied by BASF, and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) at excellent thermal stability, oxidation Durability Excellent impact strength and wear resistance makes it ideal
a leading producer, polyarylsulfones temperatures ranging from 100-250°C. resistance and biocompatibility of PSU for use in demanding applications where other materials may
comprise PSU, PESU, and PPSU, and A co-solvent like chlorobenzene is also bring it a wide range of uses. By com- fail.
are known for their high thermal, struc- used to remove the water formed as bining different functional groups on Transparent Medical devices and optical components.
tural, and chemical stability. They are an azeotropic mixture. The alkali salt its molecular chain, various separation Lightweight Ideal for applications where weight is a concern, such as
used in a broad range of applications, formed is fi ltered and the resulting solu- membranes can be made,so as to be aerospace and automotive components.
including electronic, automotive, and tion is cooled and poured into a non- applied to water processing, fuel cells,
aerospace industries, as well as medi- solvent like methanol. The polymer is medical devices, and food packaging Biocompatible Medical devices and implants.
cine, water treatment, personal care, precipitated, purifi ed, and dried. industries. Inherently fl ame retardant Ideal in applications where fi re safety is a concern.
household commodities, and the agri- Electrically insulating Electrical and electronic components.
food sector. Properties and applications PSU adhesivesare supplied as dry
The widespread use of PSU is due pellets, and metal-to-metal joints ex- is estimated at $475-mn in 2022. China Sumitomo (Japan) and Severnaya (PPSU), and Veradel (PESU). Via its
PSU is a thermoplastic resin with to its excellent mechanical, chemical, hibit high peel and shear strength. PSU is forecast to reach a market size of (Russia), each with over 10,000-tpa strategic partnership with the company,
very high strength and one of the high- and thermal stabilities, and antibacte- maintains its structural integrity up to $399-mn by 2030, with an impres- of capacity. PPSU products under the Radel brand
est service temperatures of any melt- rial resistance compared to other poly- 193°C. More than 60% of its room- sive CAGR of 8.3% to 2030. Other are also manufactured by Westlake
processible thermoplastic. It is highly meric materials. temperature shear strength, as well as noteworthy markets include Japan Ultrason is an umbrella tradename Plastics, alongside its Thermalux brand
resistant to mineral acids, alkalis, excellent creep resistance, is retained and Canada, each projected to grow for BASF’s PESU (Ultrason E), PSU of sulfone materials. Likewise, a new
salts, detergent solutions, oils, and PSU is capable of adhering to hot at 149°C. Since this is a hot melt, long at 4.5% and 5.6%, respectively, from (Ultrason S), and PPSU (Ultrason P). licensing agreement permits RTP
alcohol. However, it is attacked by polar metals and has a high softening point cure cycles are not needed; the cycle 2022 to 2030. Germany is also expec- BASF’s total capacity of Ultrason Company to produce and sell Radel
organic solvents such as ketones, chlo- (88°C) and outstanding heat stability. It needs only be long enough to introduce ted to grow at a 4.8% CAGR within polyarylsulfones is about 24,000-tpa. PPSU resins.
rinated hydrocarbons, and aromatic has a 174°C heat-distortion temperature suffi cient heat for adequate wetting Europe. BASF produces Ultrason resins in
hydrocarbons. PSU stress-cracks easily and a 193°C second-order glass-transi- of the substrate by the PSU. PSU hot Ludwigshafen (Germany) and Yeosu In 2016, Solvay announced that
and is considered notch-sensitive. It tion temperature. Flexural modulus is melt has been used successfully with BASF (Germany) and Syensqo (South Korea)(1). it expects to increase global produc-
can be solvent cemented, convention- retained constant over a wide tempera- clad aluminium alloy, stainless steel, (former Solvay) (Belgium) are the tion capacity for its sulfone poly-
ally adhesive bonded, or ultrasonically ture range. and cold-rolled steel. Adequate surface leading producers of sulfone poly- Syensqo’s polymers are sold under mers by more than 35% over the next
welded. preparation is important before bonding. mers. Other signifi cant producers are the brandnames Udel (PSU), Radel five years through significant invest-
Typical applications of polysulfones ments and process optimisations at
Manufacture include microwave cookware, medical & Market trends Table 2: The most important polyarylsulfone and polyetherimide producers facilities in the US. and Asia. In addi-
PSU is prepared from the conden- laboratory equipment where repeated In 2019, the global consumption of in the world tion to producing sulfone polymers
sation polymerisation of Bisphenol sterilization by steam is required, sulfone polymers was ~87,600-tonnes. Producer Products Capacity [t/a] Plant locations at its facilities in Marietta, Ohio,
USA, and Panoli, Gujarat, Solvay
The global market for sulfone poly- BASF PSU, PESU, 18,000 Ludwigshafen is back-integrated, producing sul-
mers, estimated at $1.7-bn in 2022, is PPSU (Germany), Yeosu fone monomer at Panoli as well as
projected to grow to a size of $2.7-bn (South Korea) its plant in Augusta (Ga., USA), to
by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.2%. PSU is Sabic PEI 21,000 Cartagena (Spain) ensure security of supply for its
projected to record a 6.2% CAGR, Syensqo PSU, PESU, 33,000 Marietta, Ohio customers. In 2019, it completed the
reaching $1-bn by the end of the analy- PPSU (USA); Panoli Panoli unit PESU project, which,
sis period, while PESU is estimated to (Gujarat) market sources indicate, has a capa-
grow at a 6.8% CAGR over the next Sumitomo PESU 6,000 Ichihara City and city of about 3,000-tpa.
eight years. Nihama, (Japan)

Total 78,000 Sumitomo Chemical operates two
The US market for sulfone polymers PESU production facilities of about

178 Chemical Weekly November 26, 2024 Chemical Weekly November 26, 2024 179

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