General Purpose GF30 vs General Purpose RIGID-FOAM
Polyurethane · General Purpose grade comparison
General Purpose GF30 and General Purpose RIGID-FOAM are two grades of the same polyurethane grade, General Purpose: GF30 (30% glass-fiber reinforced rigid PU / RIM) versus RIGID-FOAM. The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. General Purpose GF30 is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) against 0.3 MPa (0.0435 ksi) for General Purpose RIGID-FOAM, about 267 times as much. In exchange, General Purpose RIGID-FOAM is the more ductile: elongation 6% versus 4% for General Purpose GF30, and General Purpose GF30 is harder (82 Shore D vs 30 Shore D). General Purpose RIGID-FOAM is lighter (0.04 g/cm³ vs 1.38 g/cm³ for General Purpose GF30) and General Purpose GF30 is stiffer (5 GPa vs 0.01 GPa). On the shop floor, General Purpose GF30 welds better (poor vs not recommended).
General Purpose GF30Choose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
General Purpose RIGID-FOAMChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when weight is the constraint.
General Purpose GF30 vs General Purpose RIGID-FOAM: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polyurethane grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polyurethane grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
General Purpose GF30General Purpose RIGID-FOAM
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Hardness, Shore D
Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.48 · Hardness, Shore A 80 Shore A · Tear Strength 80 kN/m457 lbf/in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Water Absorption (24 h)
Same in both: Glass Transition (Tg) -35°C-31 °F · Water Absorption (Saturation) 1.8%
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Limiting Oxygen Index
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 1,750 J/kg·K0.42 BTU/lb·°F · Max Service Temperature (short-term) 120°C248 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Same in both: Dielectric Strength 22 kV/mm559 V/mil · Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) 5 · Dissipation Factor (1 MHz) 0.05 · Volume Resistivity 1×10¹² Ω·cm · Surface Resistivity 1×10¹³ Ω · Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) 600 V
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 80 / 100 · UV / Weathering Resistance 35 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Mold Shrinkage
Same in both: Polishability 30 / 100 · Mold Temperature (typ.) 100°C212 °F
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 105 MJ/kg45,142 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 5 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 300 L/kg35.9 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 3%
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every polyurethane grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
General Purpose GF30 vs General Purpose RIGID-FOAM — frequently asked
Is General Purpose GF30 stronger than General Purpose RIGID-FOAM?
Yes. General Purpose GF30 has a typical tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) against 0.3 MPa (0.0435 ksi) for General Purpose RIGID-FOAM — about 267 times as much.
Which grade does FabDigit quote by default, GF30 or RIGID-FOAM?
GP-A80 is the default General Purpose condition in the FabDigit quote flow (neither GF30 nor RIGID-FOAM). The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which is easier to machine, General Purpose GF30 or General Purpose RIGID-FOAM?
General Purpose RIGID-FOAM, by a small margin. Both rate good for machinability — 60/100 against 55/100 for General Purpose GF30; for welding the order is General Purpose GF30 first (poor, 15/100) then General Purpose RIGID-FOAM (not recommended, 5/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in General Purpose GF30 and General Purpose RIGID-FOAM side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.