Glassy Carbon RVC
Grade
RVC = 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.
Values for the RVC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
RVCThis page 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 RVC?
Glassy Carbon RVC is Glassy Carbon in the RVC grade — 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. Glassy Carbon RVC 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 0.1 GPa (0.0145 Msi). Glassy Carbon RVC has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of ceramic grades. GC-2300 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; RVC is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), better than 99% of ceramic grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 95/100, better than 97% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.4%, better than 96% of ceramic grades
- Easy to machine — 30/100, better than 85% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 5/100, worse than 100% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 0.1 GPa (0.0145 Msi), worse than 99% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.8 MPa·√m (0.728 ksi·√in), worse than 99% of ceramic grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.1 W/m·K (0.0578 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of ceramic grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 81% of ceramic grades
Glassy Carbon RVC properties
Typical room-temperature values for Glassy Carbon RVC; 11 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 RVC has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical13
Glassy Carbon RVC 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 0.1 GPa (0.0145 Msi).
Thermal5
Glassy Carbon RVC is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 0.1 W/m·K (0.0578 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 2.6 µm/m·K (1.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Glassy Carbon RVC has an electrical resistivity of 0.005 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (95/100), better than 97% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Glassy Carbon RVC 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 RVC's machinability is poor (30/100, better than 85% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Glassy Carbon RVC
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 RVC — frequently asked
What is Glassy Carbon RVC used for?
Glassy Carbon RVC 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 RVC?
Glassy Carbon RVC 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 RVC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, better than 85% 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 RVC 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 RVC?
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 RVC 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 RVC?
Glassy Carbon RVC is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °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.