ThermaX PSU: High-Temp Clarity and Strength in One Material

Описание: Polysulfone, or PSU, is one of the most overlooked materials in high-performance 3D printing. But it’s been quietly powering some of the most demanding applications on Earth and beyond. From medical devices and industrial filters to automotive sensors and even NASA’s Apollo program, PSU is a proven material that handles extreme conditions with ease. And yes, you can print it.

In this video, we break down everything you need to know about PSU and how it performs when printed with a high-temperature FDM system like the Vision Miner 22 IDEX. You’ll see exactly how it behaves under flame testing, torsion testing, and real-world printing conditions.

PSU is an amorphous thermoplastic with a glass transition temperature around 190°C and a continuous-use temperature near 160°C. It’s naturally flame retardant, resistant to radiation, hydrolysis, and chemical attack, and it maintains optical clarity. Unlike crystalline polymers, it’s dimensionally stable and transparent. That’s why companies like Medtronic, GE Healthcare, Baxter, 3M, and even NASA rely on it.

In healthcare, PSU is used in blood filters, surgical tools, sterilization trays, and sample containers because it can handle heat, steam, and repeated chemical exposure. In water treatment, it’s a key component in ultrafiltration membranes and RO systems. In food and beverage, you’ll find it in high end coffee machines, hot water systems, and even pour-over components used in competitive brewing. It’s also FDA and NSF approved for food contact.

Automotive brands like Bosch and Valeo use PSU for electrical insulators, sensor housings, and fuel system parts because it can survive high temperatures and vibration. Aerospace manufacturers use it for light covers, ducting, and interior panels thanks to its low smoke and flame toxicity. In electrical systems, it holds up under long-term voltage and humidity, used by brands like Siemens and ABB. And in the military, PSU shows up in field-grade fittings and enclosures because of its impact strength and resistance to harsh environments.

Technically speaking, PSU boasts a tensile strength around 70 MPa, flexural strength above 100 MPa, and a dielectric strength over 16 kV/mm. It’s UL94 V-0 rated, has low moisture absorption, and resists deformation under load, even in hot, humid conditions.

On the print side, PSU runs clean with excellent layer bonding and good surface finish. It’s surprisingly forgiving for a high-temp polymer. We’ve printed sterilization trays, manifolds, jigs, housings, and more using nozzles as small as 0.1 mm. Just make sure to dry the filament thoroughly before use 3 to 4 hours at 130 to 160°C or overnight in a vacuum oven. If you skip that step, expect steam bubbles and weak prints. We recommend our vacuum oven or drying kits to keep your filament in top shape.

The real magic of PSU is that it performs like an injection molded part right off the printer. It doesn’t warp. It’s not brittle. And it holds up in places where other materials fail. Whether you’re building components for aerospace, food-grade tools, high-pressure systems, or chemical processing, PSU is a material worth testing.

Watch the video to see it in action, including direct torch testing and stress analysis. We’re building a full database of material performance so you can compare PSU against other filaments like PLA, PETG, and PEEK.

If you’ve got a demanding application, let us know. We’re always looking for real-world use cases to feature, and we can help you dial in the process for your exact needs.

Learn more or shop PSU filament:

https://visionminer.com/products/ther...

At Vision Miner, we specialize in Functional 3D printing, especially high-performance plastics like PEEK, ULTEM, PPSU, PPS, CFPA, and more. We also have extensive experience with 3D scanners, and a whole array of solutions available for purchase. If you’re interested in using functional 3D printing and materials in your business, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make the right choice for your application.

Call 833-774-6863 or email [email protected], and we’re here to help

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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 What is PSU?
02:37 Who uses PSU?
05:32 What are the technical details?
06:16 What makes PSU special?
07:02 How does PSU print?
07:54 What do you need to print PSU?
09:41 What happened to Rob?
10:04 Testing with a propane torch
11:17 What would happen if you did the same thing to PLA?
11:30 What does it mean to sulfonate?
12:37 What is under the burnt stuff?
12:48 Let's watch it in high speed
13:19 Let's look at what happened under a microscope!
15:02 UTM test
15:52 Torsion test
16:06 Bend & break test
17:52 So.. what's in store for the future?
19:47 Is this the outro?