Glassy Carbon GC-1000
Grade
GC-1000 = low heat-treatment temperature glassy carbon
Pick for service at or below 1000 °C: the ~1000 °C heat treatment gives higher density and compressive strength at lower cost, but less purity and high-temperature stability than the 2300 °C type.
Values for the GC-1000 condition
Other Glassy Carbon tempers and conditions
Glassy Carbon is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Glassy Carbon.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GC-1000This page Low heat-treatment temperature glassy carbon | Pick for service at or below 1000 °C: the ~1000 °C heat treatment gives higher density and compressive strength at lower cost, but less purity and high-temperature stability than the 2300 °C type. | — | 110 | — | 230 HV | 5 W/m·K |
GC-2300Default High heat-treatment temperature glassy carbon | Choose this default high-purity, ~2300 °C heat-treated form for electrochemical electrodes, crucibles and semiconductor parts; usable to 3000 °C in an inert atmosphere. | — | 130 | — | 340 HV | 6 W/m·K |
Reticulated vitreous carbon foam | Use when a conductive open-cell skeleton with high specific surface area is needed — flow-through reactors, current collectors, filtration, high-temperature insulation; strength is very low, light loads only. | — | — | — | — | 0.1 W/m·K |
What is Glassy Carbon GC-1000?
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 is Glassy Carbon in the GC-1000 grade — pick for service at or below 1000 °C: the ~1000 °C heat treatment gives higher density and compressive strength at lower cost, but less purity and high-temperature stability than the 2300 °C type. Glassy Carbon GC-1000 has a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi), stronger than 51% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 35 GPa (5.08 Msi). Glassy Carbon GC-1000 has a density of 1.54 g/cm³ (0.0556 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of ceramic grades. GC-2300 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; GC-1000 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 97% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.4%, better than 96% of ceramic grades
- Lightweight — 1.54 g/cm³ (0.0556 lb/in³), better than 96% of ceramic grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 88% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 0.8 MPa·√m (0.728 ksi·√in), worse than 99% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 35 GPa (5.08 Msi), worse than 86% of ceramic grades
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Glassy Carbon GC-1000; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Glassy Carbon reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical2
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 has a density of 1.54 g/cm³ (0.0556 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical13
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 has a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi), stronger than 51% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 35 GPa (5.08 Msi).
Thermal5
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 4.6 W/m·K (2.66 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 63% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 3.5 µm/m·K (1.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 has an electrical resistivity of 5×10⁻⁵ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 88% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Glassy Carbon GC-1000 takes about 300 MJ of energy and emits 22 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Glassy Carbon GC-1000's machinability is not recommended (14/100, better than 80% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Glassy Carbon GC-1000
Is Glassy Carbon easy to machine?
Only diamond wheel grinding, wire sawing or laser cutting are practical; feed lightly and chamfer all edges. Do not turn, mill or tap — the material chips and cracks immediately.
Can Glassy Carbon be welded?
Not weldable; connections to metal or quartz rely on mechanical clamping, carbon cement or brazing to a metallized coating.
Can Glassy Carbon be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape process: the resin is cured in a mold, then pyrolyzed extremely slowly, with roughly 20–30 % linear shrinkage compensated in the mold. Thickness is generally held to a few millimetres to avoid cracking.
What surface finishes work on Glassy Carbon?
Can be polished to a mirror finish (Ra < 10 nm) for electrochemical electrodes; surfaces are activated by plasma or thermal oxidation. Plating is not possible — an acid rinse before use is sufficient.
Glassy Carbon chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Hhigher residual H in 1000 °C type; near zero in 2300 °C type | 0 – 0.1 | 0.02 |
| ashash typically <50 ppm (<20 ppm high-temperature type) | 0 – 0.01 | 0 |
| Cnon-graphitizing carbon from phenolic/furfuryl/polyfurfuryl resins | ≥ 99.9 (balance) | — |
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 — frequently asked
What is Glassy Carbon GC-1000 used for?
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 is typically used for crucibles for metal melting, electrochemistry electrodes, high-temperature labware and biomedical implants coatings. In short: most inert carbon form; grind-only, not machinable; thin sections only.
What is the tensile strength of Glassy Carbon GC-1000?
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 has a typical tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 51% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Glassy Carbon GC-1000 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (14/100, better than 80% of ceramic grades). Only diamond wheel grinding, wire sawing or laser cutting are practical; feed lightly and chamfer all edges. Do not turn, mill or tap — the material chips and cracks immediately.
Can Glassy Carbon GC-1000 be welded?
Not weldable; connections to metal or quartz rely on mechanical clamping, carbon cement or brazing to a metallized coating.
What surface finishes work on Glassy Carbon GC-1000?
Can be polished to a mirror finish (Ra < 10 nm) for electrochemical electrodes; surfaces are activated by plasma or thermal oxidation. Plating is not possible — an acid rinse before use is sufficient.
Can Glassy Carbon GC-1000 be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape process: the resin is cured in a mold, then pyrolyzed extremely slowly, with roughly 20–30 % linear shrinkage compensated in the mold. Thickness is generally held to a few millimetres to avoid cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of Glassy Carbon GC-1000?
Glassy Carbon GC-1000 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- SIGRADUR G / SIGRADUR K Glassy Carbon Material Data — HTW Hochtemperatur-Werkstoffe GmbH (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — Carbon and Graphite — ASM International (1991)
- Glassy Carbon Plates, Crucibles and Electrodes — Goodfellow / Alfa Aesar (2023)
- Carbon Materials for Advanced Technologies — vitreous carbon chapter — Elsevier (1999)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.