FabDigitFabDigit

Glassy Carbon GC-2300

Grade · default condition

GC-2300 = 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.

High cost $$$$

Values for the GC-2300 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 datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
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 HV5 W/m·K
GC-2300DefaultThis page
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 HV6 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-2300?

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 is Glassy Carbon in the GC-2300 grade — 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. Glassy Carbon GC-2300 has a tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi), stronger than 53% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 35 GPa (5.08 Msi). Glassy Carbon GC-2300 has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of ceramic grades.

Advantages

  • Lightweight — 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), better than 97% of ceramic grades
  • Good corrosion resistance — 95/100, better than 97% of ceramic grades
  • 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

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-2300 properties

Typical room-temperature values for Glassy Carbon GC-2300; 15 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-2300 has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of ceramic grades.

Density1.42 g/cm³0.05 lb/in³
Porosity0%

Mechanical13

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 has a tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi), stronger than 53% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 35 GPa (5.08 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus35 GPa5.1 Msi
Shear Modulus14.5 GPa2.1 Msi
Bulk Modulus19 GPa2.8 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.2
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)130 MPa18.9 ksi
Elongation at Break0.4%
Compressive Strength480 MPa69.6 ksi
Flexural Strength260 MPa37.7 ksi
Shear Strength60 MPa8.7 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)0.8 MPa·√m0.73 ksi·√in
Hardness, Vickers340 HV
Hardness, Knoop320 HK
Hardness, Mohs6.5

Thermal5

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 6.3 W/m·K (3.64 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 61% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 2.6 µm/m·K (1.44 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity6.3 W/m·K3.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity710 J/kg·K0.17 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)2.6 µm/m·K1.4 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)600°C1,112 °F
Min Service Temperature-269°C-452 °F

Electrical2

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 has an electrical resistivity of 4.5×10⁻⁵ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity4.5×10⁻⁵ Ω·m1,772 µΩ·in
Volume Resistivity0 Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental2

Corrosion resistance is excellent (95/100), better than 97% of ceramic grades.

Corrosion ResistanceExcellent95/100
Chemical Resistance Summary—

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of Glassy Carbon GC-2300 takes about 300 MJ of energy and emits 22 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)300 MJ/kg128,977 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)22 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water150 L/kg18 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content0%

Manufacturability3

Glassy Carbon GC-2300's machinability is not recommended (12/100, better than 78% of ceramic grades).

MachinabilityNot recommended12/100
PolishabilityExcellent95/100
Sintering / Firing Temperature2,300°C4,172 °F

Common Calculations4

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated92 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated24.6 MN·m/kg
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated6.2 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated9

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with Glassy Carbon GC-2300

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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Hhigher residual H in 1000 °C type; near zero in 2300 °C type0 – 0.10.02
ashash typically <50 ppm (<20 ppm high-temperature type)0 – 0.010
Cnon-graphitizing carbon from phenolic/furfuryl/polyfurfuryl resins≥ 99.9 (balance)—

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 — frequently asked

What is Glassy Carbon GC-2300 used for?

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 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-2300?

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 has a typical tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) — stronger than 53% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.

Is Glassy Carbon GC-2300 easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (12/100, better than 78% 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-2300 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-2300?

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-2300 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-2300?

Glassy Carbon GC-2300 is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

  1. SIGRADUR G / SIGRADUR K Glassy Carbon Material Data — HTW Hochtemperatur-Werkstoffe GmbH (2022)
  2. Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — Carbon and Graphite — ASM International (1991)
  3. Glassy Carbon Plates, Crucibles and Electrodes — Goodfellow / Alfa Aesar (2023)
  4. 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.