PPS is the original high-performance, crystalline  polymer. It was introduced in the late 1960s by Montsanto under the Ryton tradename. Offering a nearly 400°F (200°C) continuous use temperature and excellent  chemical resistance to hot water, steam and most common chemicals including acids and bases it was quickly adopted by the oil and gas and automotive industries when other plastics didn’t work. It was inherently flame resistant with chemical resistance than approached that of fluoropolymers.

PPS has in inherently low softening temperature (Tg ) meaning glass or carbon fibers are often used to boost the strength at temperature properties.  Most early grades therefore contained 30-40% reinforcement making them challenging to process and difficult to machine. Most PPS is still injection molded but extruded shapes fill a niche demanding extreme chemical resistance, dimensional stability and machinability.