Ryton® PPS resists attack by a remarkable variety of chemicals, both at ambient and elevated temperatures. Among engineering plastics, Ryton® PPS is exceeded only by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in chemical resistance. It is resistant to all fuels (including "flex fuels"), oils, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, automotive coolants, and electronic processing fluids. Although some chemical agents (hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, for example) can attack and break down the PPS polymer under severe conditions such as high temperature and/or concentration, there is no known solvent for PPS polymer at temperatures below about 200°C (392°F).
The chart below compares the chemical resistance of several engineering plastics when tested for compatibility with 127 different chemical reagents. Ryton® PPS retained at least 75% of its original tensile strength after 24 hours at 200°F (93°C) in 120 of the 127 reagents tested, exhibiting the widest range of chemical compatibility. This shows that Ryton® PPS is an ideal candidate for industrial applications in harsh chemical environments where other engineering materials will fail.
