Sulfone Polymers for Membranes

Solvay’s sulfone polymers have been used to make membranes for over 25 years. These high-temperature thermoplastics impart high fiber strength, toughness, rigidity and hydrolytic stability. This, combined with their excellent chemical resistance, enables membranes to tolerate a variety of feed streams and cleaning methods.

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OverviewPropertiesAgency ApprovalsUdel® PSUVeradel® PESURadel® PPSU

Proven Membrane Performance

Sulfone polymers are soluble in conventional processing solvents and are used to make hollow fiber, flat sheet and tubular membranes. A range of molecular weights with controlled viscosities makes it easier to fine-tune dope solutions and maximize process stability. High molecular weight grades improve fiber strength and minimize fiber breakage. Low cyclic dimer grades improve the stability of dope solutions, reduce filter clogging and minimize manufacturing defects.

Key Features	Key Benefits
Excellent mechanical properties Outstanding hydrolytic stability Stable at pH levels from 2 to 13 Easy to form MF and UF membranes Soluble in conventional processing solvents Low level of insolubles and extractibles Excellent biocompatibility Sterilizeable by steam, ethylene oxide and gamma radiation Global agency approvals	Excellent mechanical properties Outstanding hydrolytic stability Stable at pH levels from 2 to 13 Excellent biocompatibility Easy to form MF and UF membranes Low level of insolubles and extractibles Sterilizable by steam, ethylene oxide and gamma radiation Global agency approvals

SULFONE POLYMERS FOR MEMBRANES
	Pellet	Powder
Udel^® polysulfone
	P-1700 LCD
	P-3500 LCD
	P-3500 LCD MB Series
Veradel^® polyethersulfone
		3000P
		3100P
		3200P
Radel^® polyphenylsulfone
	R-5000
	R-5500

Other grades are available upon request.

Sulfone Polymers Properties

Excellent chemical resistance combined with hydrolytic stability, high strength and the ability to operate over a broad pH range makes these polymers the right choice for membranes used in demanding end-use environments.

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Physical Properties

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Property Test Method Units Udel
P-1700
LCD,
P-1800 Udel
P-3500
LCD,
P-1835 Veradel
3000P,
3100P,
3200P Radel
R-5000,
R-5500

Form pellet, powder pellet, powder powder pellet

Density ASTM
D 792 g/cm³ 1.24 1.24 1.37 1.29

Molecular Weight,
Mw GPC g/mol (x10³) 67-72 75-81 62-64, 52-55,
45-47 52-55, 55-59

Polydispersity GPC 3.5 3.6 3.2-3.9 2.6

Solution Viscosity
25% in DMAC
40°C, 30 s^-1 cp 1,000-
1,800 1,800-
3,000 1,225-1,650,
700-900,
420-550 ~2,200

Melt Flow Index ASTM D 1238 g/10 min 5.0-9.0⁽¹⁾ 2.0-4.9⁽¹⁾ 14-20, 12-17⁽²⁾

Water Absorption
24 hours, 23°C ASTM D 570 % 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.37

⁽¹⁾ Melt flow condition 343°C, 2.16 kg
⁽²⁾ Melt flow condition 365°C, 5.0 kg

Mechanical Properties

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Property Test Method Units Udel
P-1700
LCD,
P-1800 Udel
P-3500
LCD,
P-1835 Veradel
3000P,
3100P,
3200P Radel
R-5000,
R-5500

Tensile Strength
at Yield ASTM
D 638 psi
MPa 10,200
70 10,200
70 12,900
90 10,100
70

Tensile Modulus ASTM
D 638 kpsi
MPa 360
2,480 360
2,480 400
2,800 340
2,300

Tensile Elongation
at Yield ASTM
D 638 % 5.7 5.7 6.5 7.2

Tensile Elongation
at Break ASTM
D 638 % 50-100 50-100 30-60 60-120

Flexural Strength ASTM
D 790 psi
MPa 15,400
106 15,400
106 17,500
121 15,200
105

Flexural Modulus ASTM
D 790 kpsi
MPa 390
2,690 390
2,690 400
2,800 350
2,400

Thermal Properties

THERMAL PROPERTIES

Property Test Method Units Udel
P-1700
LCD,
P-1800 Udel
P-3500
LCD,
P-1835 Veradel
3000P,
3100P,
3200P Radel
R-5000,
R-5500

Glass Transition
Temperature ASTM
D 3418 °C 190 190 220 220

Heat Deflection
Temperature
264 psi (1.8 MPa) ASTM
D 648 °C 174 174 204 207

Chemical Resistance

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE*

Property Udel
P-1700
LCD,
P-1800 Udel
P-3500
LCD,
P-1835 Veradel
3000P,
3100P,
3200P Radel
R-5000,
R-5500

Hydrolytic Stability + + + +

Acids + + + +

Alkali + + + +

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons 0 0 + +

Aromatic Hydrocarbons – – 0 0

Aliphatic Alcohols 0 0 + +

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons – – – 0

Dipolar Aprotic Solvents – – – –

Chlorine + + + +

Ozone + + + +

Sterilization by Gamma Rays + + + +

Sterilization by Steam + + + +

KEY

+ Polymer is resistant. Any increase in weight is less than 2% and any decrease in weight is less than 0.3%. The tensile yield strength is at least 85% of the initial value.
0 Use of polymer is limited. Response does not meet above criteria. For example, weight inrease may be more than 2%. However, the polymer can be used if stress is low.
>– Polymer is not resistant. There is considerable alteration of the polymer, such as dissolution or chemical or physical degradation.

* Internal test method. Ratings give a general indication.

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE*
Reagent	Udel polysulfone	Veradel polyethersulfone	Radel polyphenylsulfone
n-Butane	E	E	E
Benzene	SA	SA	F
Toluene	SA	SA	F
Ethanol	G	G	E
Methyl Ethyl Ketone	SA	SA	E
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	SA	SA	F
Carbon Tetrachloride	G	G	G
Hydrochloric Acid, 20%	E	E	E
Sodium Hydroxide, 10%	E	E	E

KEY

E Excellent. No change.
G Good. Minor attack. No serious loss of properites.
F Fair. Some attack. Some useful properties remain.
SA Severe attack or rupture.

* Internal test method. Ratings give a general indication.

Solvents

SOLVENTS*

Udel
polysulfone Veradel
polyethersulfone Radel
polyphenylsulfone

NMP NMP NMP

DMF DMF DMF

DMAC DMAC DMAC

Pyrridine Pyrridine Pyrridine

2-Pyrrolidone

Chloroform

Methylene Chloride

Tetrahydrofuran