N-1
ASTM D709 Type N-1
N-1 is a nylon-fabric-reinforced phenolic laminate to ASTM D709 Type N-1, supplied as sheet, rod and rolled tube.
Reference datasheet — N-1 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 N-1?
N-1 is a nylon-fabric-reinforced phenolic laminate to ASTM D709 Type N-1, supplied as sheet, rod and rolled tube. It is specified where cellulose-fabric grades lose dielectric performance in humid air, combining low moisture-driven property loss with about 80 MPa tensile strength and moderate machinability. The thermoset matrix cannot be welded or thermoformed, stiffness is below glass-reinforced laminates, and the nylon fabric tends to machine fuzzy, so G-10/FR-4 is the usual alternative when structural strength and dimensional stability dominate. N-1 has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of composite grades. N-1 has a tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), weaker than 77% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 5.5 GPa (0.798 Msi).
What is N-1 used for?
- humid-environment terminal insulation
- marine electrical parts
- specialty gaskets
Advantages
- Lightweight — 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), better than 80% of composite grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 105°C (221 °F), worse than 90% of composite grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 25/100, worse than 86% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 5.5 GPa (0.798 Msi), worse than 80% of composite grades
N-1 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical3
N-1 has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of composite grades.
Mechanical10
N-1 has a tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), weaker than 77% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 5.5 GPa (0.798 Msi).
Thermal8
N-1 is rated for continuous service to 105°C (221 °F). It conducts heat at 0.28 W/m·K (0.162 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 71% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 25 µm/m·K (13.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
N-1 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 16 kV/mm (406.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), worse than 72% of composite grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of N-1 takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
N-1's machinability is good (60/100, better than 73% 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. N-1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with N-1
Is N-1 easy to machine?
Machines readily with carbide tooling and high rake angles; use sharp tools, high speed/low feed and air or vacuum extraction — dull tools cause fuzzy nylon edges and delamination at drill breakout.
Can N-1 be welded?
Not weldable (thermoset laminate); join by bolting, riveting or epoxy bonding after abrading and degreasing the surface.
Can N-1 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as fully cured flat sheet, rod or rolled tube; cold punching is practical only in thin gauges (≤1.6 mm) with the stock warmed to ~60–90 °C, otherwise machine to shape.
N-1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde) resinresole/novolac thermoset matrix, fully cured | 35 – 48 | 42 |
| nylon (polyamide 6,6) woven fabricreinforcing base fabric per ASTM D709 Type N | ≥ 52 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on N-1?
Sanded or machined faces can be sealed with epoxy or polyurethane varnish for humid service; edges should be deburred and sealed to limit wicking, and the natural brown-tan surface is normally left unpainted.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to N-1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D709 Type N-1
- Also called
- NEMA N-1
How much does N-1 cost?
N-1 is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
N-1 — frequently asked
What is N-1 used for?
N-1 is typically used for humid-environment terminal insulation, marine electrical parts and specialty gaskets. In short: best humid-service phenolic laminate; nylon fabric, low moisture pickup; machines better than glass laminates.
What is the tensile strength of N-1?
N-1 has a typical tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) — weaker than 77% of composite grades.
Is N-1 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 73% of composite grades). Machines readily with carbide tooling and high rake angles; use sharp tools, high speed/low feed and air or vacuum extraction — dull tools cause fuzzy nylon edges and delamination at drill breakout.
Can N-1 be welded?
Not weldable (thermoset laminate); join by bolting, riveting or epoxy bonding after abrading and degreasing the surface.
What surface finishes work on N-1?
Sanded or machined faces can be sealed with epoxy or polyurethane varnish for humid service; edges should be deburred and sealed to limit wicking, and the natural brown-tan surface is normally left unpainted.
Can N-1 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as fully cured flat sheet, rod or rolled tube; cold punching is practical only in thin gauges (≤1.6 mm) with the stock warmed to ~60–90 °C, otherwise machine to shape.
What is the maximum service temperature of N-1?
N-1 is rated for continuous use to about 105°C (221 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does N-1 cost?
N-1 is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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 Laminating Thermosetting Products — NEMA (1998)
- Industrial phenolic laminate grade data (nylon-fabric base) — Norplex-Micarta (2022)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics (laminates section) — ASM International (1988)
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.