Vectran
Vectran is a melt-spun liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) fiber supplied in HT, NT and UM grades, pigmented HT-BK yarn and unidirectional epoxy prepreg.
Reference datasheet — Vectran 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.
Values for the HT condition
Vectran grades and fills
Vectran is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. HT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vectran/epoxy unidirectional laminate | Use as a tough, impact- and abrasion-resistant laminate layer (often hybridised with carbon) where low compressive strength can be tolerated. | 1,400 | 2.6 | ||
As-spun standard-tenacity yarn | Pick when the yarn must be thermally bonded/fused or when moderate tenacity with a lower melting point is acceptable (hoses, coated fabrics, hybrid weaves). | 1,450 | 3.3 | ||
HT Black | Choose for outdoor ropes, tethers and sailcloth where sunlight exposure is unavoidable and a jacket is impractical. | 3,050 | 3.7 | ||
Ultra-high-modulus yarn | Use where stiffness and dimensional stability dominate — antenna guys, low-stretch tethers, dimensionally critical composites. | 3,100 | 2.2 | ||
HTDefault High-tenacity heat-treated multifilament yarn | Default choice for ropes, slings, tethers, inflatables and composite reinforcement where maximum strength and minimum creep matter. | 3,200 | 3.8 |
What is Vectran?
Vectran is a melt-spun liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) fiber supplied in HT, NT and UM grades, pigmented HT-BK yarn and unidirectional epoxy prepreg. Engineers select it for high strength with very low creep and excellent abrasion and chemical resistance: 3200 MPa tensile strength, 75 GPa modulus, 3.8% elongation at 1.4 g/cm3 and service to 150 C. It has low compressive strength and forms kink bands at sharp bends, is UV-sensitive without a jacket or pigment, and costs more than aramid. Where creep is not critical, para-aramid is the cheaper substitute; UHMWPE is lighter but limited to 70 C. Vectran has a density of 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), lighter than 64% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F). Vectran has a tensile strength of 3,200 MPa (464 ksi), stronger than 84% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 3.8% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi).
What is Vectran used for?
- inflatable space structures
- high-performance ropes and sails
- specialty composites
- cut-resistant fabrics
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 94% of composite grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.05%, better than 94% of composite grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 3.8%, better than 83% of composite grades
Vectran properties
Typical room-temperature values for Vectran-HT; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical5
Vectran has a density of 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), lighter than 64% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F).
Mechanical5
Vectran has a tensile strength of 3,200 MPa (464 ksi), stronger than 84% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 3.8% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi).
Thermal8
Vectran is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °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 -4.8 µm/m·K (-2.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Vectran is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 94% of composite grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Vectran takes about 210 MJ of energy and emits 11 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability1
Vectran's machinability is poor (22/100, worse 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. Vectran is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Vectran
Is Vectran easy to machine?
Fabrics and laminates fuzz badly with conventional blades — use ultrasonic knives, hot knives (Tm 330 °C) or water-jet, and diamond-coated/serrated tooling for trimming.
Can Vectran be welded?
HT yarn cannot be fusion-joined below its 330 °C melt without strength loss; NT grade can be heat-set/thermally bonded, otherwise use splices, whipping or adhesive terminations.
Can Vectran be formed, bent or molded?
Processed as yarn — braided, woven or filament-wound; in composites use low-temperature-cure epoxy or PU (<130 °C) and avoid sharp bends that trigger compressive kink bands.
Vectran 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) unitsmol% of aromatic copolyester backbone | 70 – 80 | 73 |
| 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA) unitsmol% | 20 – 30 | 27 |
| spin finish / sizingsurface, wt% on yarn | 0.2 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
What surface finishes work on Vectran?
Surface is smooth and low-energy; use plasma/corona or a chemical primer before coating or resin impregnation, and add a UV-opaque jacket or pigment for outdoor service.
How much does Vectran cost?
Vectran is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Vectran — frequently asked
What is Vectran used for?
Vectran is typically used for inflatable space structures, high-performance ropes and sails, specialty composites and cut-resistant fabrics. In short: lowest creep organic fiber; melts at 330 C; excellent abrasion resistance.
What is the tensile strength of Vectran?
Vectran has a typical tensile strength of 3,200 MPa (464 ksi) — stronger than 84% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Vectran easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 73% of composite grades). Fabrics and laminates fuzz badly with conventional blades — use ultrasonic knives, hot knives (Tm 330 °C) or water-jet, and diamond-coated/serrated tooling for trimming.
Can Vectran be welded?
HT yarn cannot be fusion-joined below its 330 °C melt without strength loss; NT grade can be heat-set/thermally bonded, otherwise use splices, whipping or adhesive terminations.
What surface finishes work on Vectran?
Surface is smooth and low-energy; use plasma/corona or a chemical primer before coating or resin impregnation, and add a UV-opaque jacket or pigment for outdoor service.
Can Vectran be formed, bent or molded?
Processed as yarn — braided, woven or filament-wound; in composites use low-temperature-cure epoxy or PU (<130 °C) and avoid sharp bends that trigger compressive kink bands.
What is the maximum service temperature of Vectran?
Vectran is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F), and briefly to 220°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Vectran cost?
Vectran is a high-cost composite ($$$$), 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
- Vectran Liquid Crystal Polymer Fiber — Product & Technical Guide — Kuraray Co., Ltd. (2022)
- Vectra Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) resin data — Celanese (2021)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- Handbook of Properties of Textile and Technical Fibres — Woodhead/Elsevier (2018)
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.