CE
ASTM D709 Grade CE
CE is a coarse-weave cotton-fabric phenolic laminate to ASTM D709 Grade CE, an electrical grade that keeps the mechanical toughness of Grade C while offering improved insulation resistance.
Reference datasheet — CE is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
What is CE?
CE is a coarse-weave cotton-fabric phenolic laminate to ASTM D709 Grade CE, an electrical grade that keeps the mechanical toughness of Grade C while offering improved insulation resistance. Engineers choose it for hybrid parts that must both carry load and insulate; it is stocked as sheet, rod and tube with about 80 MPa tensile strength and a machinability score of 80. Service temperature is limited to about 120 °C, and as a thermoset it cannot be welded or re-formed after cure. Where finer detail and higher dielectric strength are needed, fine-weave Grade LE is the closer choice. CE has a density of 1.36 g/cm³ (0.0491 lb/in³), lighter than 70% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 160°C (320 °F). CE has a tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), weaker than 77% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
What is CE used for?
- electrical mounting brackets
- terminal boards
- mechanical/electrical hybrid parts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 85% of composite grades
- Low embodied carbon — 4.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 79% of composite grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 79% of composite grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 78% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 7 GPa (1.02 Msi), worse than 77% of composite grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 1.3%, worse than 75% of composite grades
CE properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical4
CE has a density of 1.36 g/cm³ (0.0491 lb/in³), lighter than 70% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 160°C (320 °F).
Mechanical12
CE has a tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), weaker than 77% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
Thermal8
CE is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 63% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 25 µm/m·K (13.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
CE is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 15 kV/mm (381 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 79% of composite grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of CE takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 79% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
CE's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 85% of composite grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. CE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with CE
Is CE easy to machine?
Turns, mills, drills and taps readily with carbide tooling at high speed and light feed, with dust extraction running at all times. Support the exit face with a backing plate to prevent interlaminar tearing.
Can CE be welded?
Thermoset — not weldable; join with epoxy or phenolic adhesive and mechanical fasteners.
Can CE be formed, bent or molded?
Cannot be re-formed once cured; shape is set by hot-press lamination into sheet or by rolling into rod and tube, after which parts are machined. Any bend must be built in at the manufacturing stage.
CE 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 |
|---|---|---|
| phenol-formaldehyde resinResole/novolac resin, modified for insulation and moisture resistance | 38 – 50 | 44 |
| processing additives / lubricantsRelease agent, colorant, moisture-resistance modifier | 0 – 2 | 1 |
| cotton fabric, coarse weaveReinforcing fabric, heavier weave than L/LE fine cloth | ≥ 50 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on CE?
Can be sanded, painted or varnish-impregnated to seal the edges and reduce moisture pickup. Re-coat machined edges with insulating varnish to restore surface insulation performance.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to CE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D709 Grade CE
How much does CE cost?
CE is a premium-cost composite ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
CE — frequently asked
What is CE used for?
CE is typically used for electrical mounting brackets, terminal boards and mechanical/electrical hybrid parts. In short: tough coarse-weave cotton phenolic; load-bearing electrical grade; sheet, rod and tube stock.
What is the tensile strength of CE?
CE has a typical tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) — weaker than 77% of composite grades.
Is CE easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 85% of composite grades). Turns, mills, drills and taps readily with carbide tooling at high speed and light feed, with dust extraction running at all times. Support the exit face with a backing plate to prevent interlaminar tearing.
Can CE be welded?
Thermoset — not weldable; join with epoxy or phenolic adhesive and mechanical fasteners.
What surface finishes work on CE?
Can be sanded, painted or varnish-impregnated to seal the edges and reduce moisture pickup. Re-coat machined edges with insulating varnish to restore surface insulation performance.
Can CE be formed, bent or molded?
Cannot be re-formed once cured; shape is set by hot-press lamination into sheet or by rolling into rod and tube, after which parts are machined. Any bend must be built in at the manufacturing stage.
What is the maximum service temperature of CE?
CE is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 160°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does CE cost?
CE is a premium-cost composite ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM D709 Standard Specification for Laminated Thermosetting Materials — ASTM International (2017)
- NEMA LI 1 Industrial Laminated Thermosetting Products — NEMA (1998)
- Canvas/Cotton Phenolic Grade C & CE laminate data — Norplex-Micarta / Professional Plastics (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.3: Adhesives and Sealants / Thermoset Laminates — ASM International (1990)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.