Ryton R-4: specs and equivalent grades
Syensqo polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) with 40% glass fiber, for injection molding. Stiff, heat resistant and rated UL 94 V-0 at 1.6 mm on the data sheet. Published data, grades to ask about, and how to request a quote from one gaylord.
Request a QuoteThe short answer
Ryton R-4 is Syensqo’s 40% glass fiber reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) compound for injection molding. Syensqo’s data sheet (revised 9/29/2023) covers R-4 and R-4-02 together and describes a balance of mechanical and electrical properties with strong chemical resistance at high temperature. Published values: specific gravity 1.69 (ASTM D792), tensile strength 159 MPa (ASTM D638), flexural modulus 14,500 MPa (ASTM D790), HDT 265°C / 509°F at 1.8 MPa (ASTM D648, unannealed) and notched Izod 91 J/m (ASTM D256). It is rated UL 94 V-0 and 5VA at 1.6 mm. The sheet lists no melt flow and no processing conditions. These are typical values; confirm them on the current producer data sheet. One flag for U.S. and Canadian buyers: the data sheet (revised 9/29/2023) lists North America among its sales regions, but Syensqo’s current R-4 product page (checked November 2026) lists Asia Pacific as the only region and marks R-4 “Not available in North America.” Confirm which regional version of R-4 you would receive, and whether it can ship to you, before you plan around this grade. Syensqo’s product pages do list several separate R-4-series grades for North America (see the FAQ below). The closest grade to ask about from another producer is Celanese’s Fortron 1140L4. None is a drop-in replacement.
Also written as: Ryton R4, Ryton R-4 PPS, PPS-GF40. Syensqo’s sheet covers R-4 and R-4-02 together. Black and other variants (for example R-4-200BL, R-4-230BL or R-4-240BL) are separate grades with their own sheets, so quote the full grade and color code from your drawing or bag label.
Buying Ryton R-4: one gaylord to a railcar · supplier COA on every prime lot · ships from 22+ partner warehouse locations · a polymer chemist checks the grade code before we quote · we aim to quote within one to three business days
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Ryton R-4 specs from the data sheet
Typical values from Syensqo’s Ryton R-4 technical data sheet (revised 9/29/2023, linked from Syensqo’s R-4 product page). Most values are ASTM; a few rows also give ISO results. Typical values are not specifications. Confirm them on the current producer data sheet; the lot COA shows what you actually receive. Values only compare at the same test method and condition.
| Property | Value | Test method or note |
|---|---|---|
| Producer (brand owner) | Syensqo | Sheet footer: “Solvay Specialty Polymers, a member of the Syensqo group.” Ryton was a Chevron Phillips Chemical brand until 2015, then Solvay, then Syensqo from December 2023 |
| Polymer | Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), 40% glass fiber by weight; natural color; pellets | Sheet covers R-4 and R-4-02 together |
| Process | Injection molding | |
| Regional availability | Data sheet: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America. Syensqo R-4 product page (November 2026): Asia Pacific only, “Not available in North America” | The two Syensqo sources disagree. Confirm the regional version and ship-to supply before you order |
| Automotive specification | FORD ESF-M4D388-A3 | As listed on the sheet; approvals are grade and color specific |
| Specific gravity | 1.69 | ASTM D792 |
| Mold shrinkage, 3.20 mm | 0.20 % flow; 0.50 % across flow | Test method not stated on the sheet |
| Water absorption, 24 h, 23°C | 0.020 % | ASTM D570 |
| Tensile strength | 159 MPa (ASTM D638); 150 MPa (ISO 527-2) | |
| Tensile elongation at break | 1.1 % (ASTM D638); 1.2 % (ISO 527-2) | |
| Flexural modulus | 14,500 MPa (ASTM D790); 14,000 MPa (ISO 178) | |
| Flexural strength | 221 MPa (ASTM D790); 220 MPa (ISO 178) | |
| Compressive strength | 270 MPa | ASTM D695 |
| Poisson’s ratio | 0.38 | Test method not stated on the sheet |
| Notched Izod impact | 91 J/m (ASTM D256, 3.18 mm); 9.0 kJ/m² (ISO 180/A) | |
| Unnotched Izod impact | 400 J/m (ASTM D4812, 3.18 mm); 25 kJ/m² (ISO 180) | |
| Rockwell hardness | M 104; R 122 | ASTM D785 |
| HDT at 1.8 MPa, unannealed | 265°C / 509°F | ASTM D648 |
| Thermal expansion (CLTE) | Flow: 2.0 × 10−5 /°C (−50 to 50°C), 1.5 × 10−5 /°C (100 to 200°C). Transverse: 4.0 × 10−5 /°C (−50 to 50°C), 8.0 × 10−5 /°C (100 to 200°C) | ASTM E831 |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.32 W/m/K | Test method not stated on the sheet |
| UL temperature rating (RTI) | 200 to 220°C | UL 746B. The sheet gives a range; ask for the UL file for the property and thickness you need |
| Surface / volume resistivity | 1.0E+16 ohms / 1.0E+16 ohm-cm | ASTM D257 |
| Dielectric strength | 20 kV/mm | ASTM D149 |
| Dielectric constant, 25°C | 3.90 at 1 kHz; 3.80 at 1 MHz | ASTM D150 |
| Dissipation factor, 25°C | 2.0E-3 at 1 kHz and 1 MHz | ASTM D150 |
| Arc resistance | 125 s | ASTM D495 |
| Comparative tracking index | PLC 4 (UL 746A); 175 V (IEC 60112) | |
| Insulation resistance, 90°C | 1.0E+11 ohms | After 95% RH, 48 h, per the sheet’s footnote |
| UL 94 flammability, 1.6 mm | V-0; 5VA | UL 94. Ask for the yellow card for your color and thickness |
| Oxygen index | 47 % | ASTM D2863 |
| Melt flow | Not listed on the sheet | Ask Syensqo if your process sheet needs it |
| Drying, melt and mold temperature | Not listed on the data sheet | Syensqo publishes these in its separate Ryton PPS Processing Guide (see Sources) |
Source data sheets are listed at the bottom of this page. Confirm against the current sheet for your exact grade code and color.
PPS needs a hot mold to crystallize fully. Our PPS buying guide gives the typical range; use Syensqo’s processing guide for Ryton settings before a trial.
Grades to ask about instead of Ryton R-4
The closest options are other 40% glass fiber PPS grades. Celanese’s Fortron 1140L4 is the most common one buyers ask about; Celanese’s own Chemille tool lists Ryton R-4-200BL among its comparable grades. Neither Syensqo nor Celanese publishes melt flow for these grades, so flow cannot be compared from the sheets. None is a drop-in replacement. If your part, drawing or customer approval names Ryton R-4, any change needs that approval and a trial.
| Grade | Producer | Melt flow | Density | Key property | How it compares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortron 1140L4 | Celanese | Not published on the sheet | 1.65 g/cm³ (ISO 1183) | Tensile stress at break 195 MPa (ISO 527); flexural modulus 14,500 MPa and flexural strength 280 MPa (ISO 178); HDT 270°C at 1.8 MPa (ISO 75); UL 94 V-0 at 0.38 and 1.5 mm, 5VA at 3 mm | Ask about. Same polymer and glass level. On the ISO rows both sheets report, Celanese shows higher tensile strength (195 vs 150 MPa) and flexural strength (280 vs 220 MPa) with similar stiffness. Lower density (1.65 vs 1.69), so parts weigh about 2% less. It contains a release agent. Its HDT is ISO 75 and Ryton’s is ASTM D648, so they do not compare directly. Celanese lists it as available in the Americas. Quote this alternative › |
| Fortron 1140L4 HR | Celanese | Not published on the sheet | 1.65 g/cm³ (ISO 1183) | Tensile modulus 15,600 MPa; tensile stress at break 200 MPa (ISO 527); notched Izod 8.5 kJ/m² (ISO 180/1A); HDT 270°C at 1.8 MPa (ISO 75); V-0 at 0.38 mm | Check. A 40% glass PPS that Celanese describes as having improved hydrolysis resistance; worth asking about if parts see hot water or coolant. Celanese lists it as a new product, so confirm supply and approvals first. Quote this alternative › |
From each producer’s published data; typical values, confirm on the current producer data sheet. Brand owners and grade names change.
Typical uses for Ryton R-4
Syensqo’s sheet lists automotive applications and good electrical properties, and its product page lists industrial equipment parts. Among the product functions Syensqo lists fuel, glycol, oil, acid, alkali and hydrolysis resistance. Typical parts for this kind of material include:
- Automotive parts (the sheet lists a Ford ESF-M4D388-A3 specification)
- Industrial equipment parts (Syensqo product page)
- Electrical parts that need UL 94 V-0 at 1.6 mm and a 200 to 220°C RTI range
- Parts exposed to fuels, glycol coolants, oils, acids or alkalis at temperature (confirm chemical resistance for your media and temperature)
What to check before you switch
- Confirm the regional version. Syensqo’s R-4 data sheet lists North America, but its current R-4 product page lists Asia Pacific only. Syensqo’s product pages list R-4-200BL, R-4-200NA, R-4-220BL, R-4-220NA, R-4-230BL, R-4-230NA, R-4-240BL, R-4-240NA and R-4-244BL for North America; these are separate grades, not relabeled R-4. Ask which Ryton grade, color and regional version is actually offered for your ship-to location, and get that version’s data sheet.
- Owner check: Ryton is a Syensqo brand. Older paperwork may say Chevron Phillips Chemical or Solvay. See who makes Ryton and the brand ownership tracker.
- Compare like with like. The Ryton sheet is mostly ASTM; the Fortron sheet is ISO. Use the ISO rows (tensile 150 MPa, flexural modulus 14,000 MPa) when you compare with Fortron, and do not compare ASTM D648 HDT with ISO 75 HDT.
- Natural vs black. The R-4 sheet is for natural color. Black versions are separate grades with their own data and approvals.
- Approvals are grade and color specific. If your drawing calls for FORD ESF-M4D388-A3, confirm the exact grade and color code that carries it.
- UL listing. Ask for the yellow card for your color and wall thickness, and the RTI value for your property and thickness, not just the 200 to 220°C range.
- Hot molds and drying. PPS parts molded cold can keep crystallizing and change size later. Use Syensqo’s processing guide and our resin drying guide.
- Run a trial lot and check fill, flash, shrinkage, weld lines and dimensions before you switch production. See PPS GF40 properties for typical ranges across producers.
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Buying Ryton R-4: price, lead time and lot size
- Lot size. From one gaylord to a railcar. See gaylord, LTL and truckload for typical weights per box.
- Where it ships from. 22+ partner warehouse locations. Lead time is confirmed with your quote. Material already in a partner warehouse usually moves sooner than a grade that has to come from the producer.
- Price. We do not publish prices because they move with feedstock, freight and order size. What moves your price most: lot size, color code, ship-to region, whether this grade is offered in your region, and whether you need Ryton R-4 itself or can accept a matched alternative. See how resin is priced and the monthly market update.
- Paperwork. Supplier COA on every prime lot (what a COA shows). Ask for the producer’s UL file or compliance letters if your part needs them. Payment terms are confirmed with your quote.
- Trying an alternative? Samples (~50 lb) are available upon credit approval, or start with one gaylord as a trial lot. Custom compounding and color matching are available if you need a specific color.
- If Ryton R-4 itself is not available. If we cannot source it for your region, we tell you, then quote a matched alternative with a side-by-side comparison.
Send the grade and color code, your annual volume and ship-to location. A polymer chemist reviews every request before we quote. For several grades at once, use the resin RFQ template.
Trade names belong to their owners. ResinBridge is not affiliated with these producers; grade names are used only to identify the material. Data reflects published sheets as of November 2026.
Sources
- Syensqo Ryton R-4 technical data sheet, revised 9/29/2023 (PDF linked from Syensqo’s R-4 product page; served from UL Prospector’s catalog)
- Syensqo Ryton R-4 product page: description, product functions and region of availability
- Syensqo Ryton R-4-240BL product page: region of availability
- Syensqo Ryton R-4-200BL product page: region of availability
- Syensqo Ryton R-4-230NA product page: region of availability
- Syensqo Ryton PPS literature, including the Ryton PPS Processing Guide
- Celanese Fortron 1140L4 technical data sheet (SI), revised 2026-09-08 (PDF)
- Celanese Fortron 1140L4 HR technical data sheet (SI), revised 2026-09-08 (PDF)
- Celanese Chemille grade page for Fortron 1140L4 HR (regional status: new product)
- Celanese Chemille grade page for Fortron 1140L4 (regions and comparable grades)
Common questions
What is Ryton R-4?
Ryton R-4 is Syensqo’s polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) compound with 40% glass fiber by weight, for injection molding. Syensqo’s sheet covers R-4 and R-4-02 together and describes a balance of mechanical and electrical properties with strong chemical resistance at high temperature. The sheet is for natural color pellets.
Who makes Ryton R-4 now?
Syensqo. Ryton was a Chevron Phillips Chemical brand until Solvay bought the business in 2015, and it moved to Syensqo when Solvay spun off its specialty businesses in December 2023. The current data sheet footer reads “Solvay Specialty Polymers, a member of the Syensqo group.”
What is the heat deflection temperature of Ryton R-4?
265°C / 509°F at 1.8 MPa, unannealed (ASTM D648). The sheet lists a UL 746B temperature rating of 200 to 220°C. These are typical values; confirm them on the current producer data sheet.
Is Ryton R-4 flame retardant?
The sheet rates it UL 94 V-0 and 5VA at 1.6 mm, with an oxygen index of 47% (ASTM D2863). Ask for the UL yellow card for your exact color and wall thickness before you order.
What is the density of Ryton R-4?
Specific gravity 1.69 (ASTM D792). Celanese’s Fortron 1140L4, another 40% glass PPS, lists 1.65 g/cm³ (ISO 1183).
Is Ryton R-4 available in North America?
Syensqo’s own sources disagree. The R-4 data sheet (revised 9/29/2023) lists North America, but Syensqo’s R-4 product page, checked in November 2026, lists Asia Pacific only and says “Not available in North America.” Treat North American supply of R-4 itself as unconfirmed, and confirm the regional version and its data sheet before you order. Syensqo’s product pages list these separate R-4-series grades as available in North America: R-4-200BL, R-4-200NA, R-4-220BL, R-4-220NA, R-4-230BL, R-4-230NA, R-4-240BL, R-4-240NA and R-4-244BL. Each is a separate grade with its own properties and approvals, not a relabeled R-4, so check it against your drawing and approvals first.
What is equivalent to Ryton R-4?
No grade is a drop-in replacement. The closest grade to ask about is Celanese’s Fortron 1140L4, also a 40% glass PPS. On the ISO tests both sheets report, Fortron 1140L4 shows higher tensile strength (195 vs 150 MPa) and similar stiffness, with lower density (1.65 vs 1.69). Neither sheet publishes melt flow. Compare data sheets, run a trial and get approval if your part names Ryton R-4.
Can ResinBridge quote Ryton R-4?
Yes. Send the grade, color code and volume. A polymer chemist reviews every request. We quote Ryton R-4 where our supply partners can source it for your region, or a matched alternative, and say which one. Orders start at one gaylord; U.S. and Canada only.
If your grade is not listed, tell us what you run. We source commodity, engineering and specialty resins.
Need Ryton R-4 or an equivalent?
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What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
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