LCP Type III GF40
Reinforced grade
ASTM D6779 · ISO LCP
GF40 = 40 % glass-fibre reinforced
Maximum stiffness/HDT glass grade for load-bearing housings and parts exposed to lead-free reflow.
Values for the GF40 condition
Other LCP Type III grades and fills
LCP Type III is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at LCP Type III.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 % mineral filled | Mineral filler for low warpage, isotropic shrinkage and better weld-line appearance; less abrasive on tools than glass. | — | 110 | 1.8 | — |
Bearing / lubricated grade | Choose for low-friction, low-wear sliding parts (bushings, gears, pump vanes) running dry at elevated temperature. | — | 115 | 1.8 | 87 Shore D |
GF/MF hybrid | Balanced grade when both dimensional stability (low anisotropy) and stiffness are needed, e.g. flat thin covers. | — | 130 | 1.6 | 90 Shore D |
ESD / conductive grade | For semiconductor and electronics handling trays where 10⁴–10⁹ Ω·cm static dissipation is specified. | — | 130 | 1.5 | 89 Shore D |
LDS grade | Pick when circuit traces are plated directly onto the moulded part (MID antennas, module carriers). | — | 140 | 1.6 | 90 Shore D |
High-flow / thin-wall grade | Lowest-viscosity Type III variant for 0.1–0.3 mm walls and fine-pitch connectors with long flow paths. | — | 145 | 2.5 | 88 Shore D |
15 % glass-fibre reinforced | Light reinforcement to lift stiffness and HDT while keeping good flow for very thin connector walls. | — | 155 | 2.5 | — |
30 % glass-fibre reinforced | Workhorse grade for SMT connectors, sockets and structural parts needing high HDT and stiffness with low warp. | — | 160 | 1.8 | — |
GF40This page 40 % glass-fibre reinforced | Maximum stiffness/HDT glass grade for load-bearing housings and parts exposed to lead-free reflow. | — | 170 | 1.5 | — |
30 % carbon-fibre reinforced | Highest specific stiffness plus static-dissipative behaviour; for lightweight precision and wafer-handling parts. | — | 175 | 1.3 | — |
What is LCP Type III GF40?
LCP Type III GF40 is LCP Type III in the GF40 grade — maximum stiffness/HDT glass grade for load-bearing housings and parts exposed to lead-free reflow. LCP Type III GF40 has a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi), stronger than 97% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 10 GPa (1.45 Msi). LCP Type III GF40 has a density of 1.72 g/cm³ (0.0621 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 105°C (221 °F).
Advantages
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.08%, better than 100% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 10 GPa (1.45 Msi), better than 95% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.02%, better than 92% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 170°C (338 °F), better than 83% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1.5%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.72 g/cm³ (0.0621 lb/in³), worse than 95% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades
LCP Type III GF40 properties
Typical room-temperature values for LCP Type III GF40; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are LCP Type III reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
LCP Type III GF40 has a density of 1.72 g/cm³ (0.0621 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 105°C (221 °F).
Mechanical12
LCP Type III GF40 has a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi), stronger than 97% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 10 GPa (1.45 Msi).
Thermal10
LCP Type III GF40 is rated for continuous service to 170°C (338 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
LCP Type III GF40 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 35 kV/mm (889 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 91% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of LCP Type III GF40 takes about 180 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 87% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
LCP Type III GF40's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with LCP Type III GF40
Is LCP Type III easy to machine?
Machinable with sharp carbide/PCD tooling and high speed, light feed; the skin fibrillates and filled grades are abrasive, so avoid dull tools and deburr carefully.
Can LCP Type III be welded?
No solvent bonding; use laser or ultrasonic (near-field) welding, heat staking or adhesives after plasma/flame surface activation — weld and knit lines carry only a fraction of the bulk strength.
Can LCP Type III be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mould at 285–330 °C melt with 60–130 °C tools, thoroughly dried (≈150 °C, 4 h, <0.01 % moisture); design gates to control the highly directional fibrillar orientation and place weld lines away from load paths.
What surface finishes work on LCP Type III?
Accepts vapour-deposited/electroless metallisation and laser marking; painting or printing needs surface pretreatment because the resin is inherently low-energy and solvent resistant.
LCP Type III 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) unitsrigid mesogenic backbone unit | 50 – 75 | 62 |
| naphthalene units (2,6-HNA / 2,6-naphthakink unit that lowers Tm and gives Type III processability | 15 – 40 | 25 |
| terephthalic / isophthalic acid unitscomonomer for melt-temperature control | 0 – 20 | 8 |
| aromatic diol / aminophenol unitsstoichiometric partner for diacid units | 0 – 15 | 5 |
| LCP copolyester resinbalance; fillers listed per variant (glass fibre, mineral, carbon fibre 15–40 wt %) | balance | — |
LCP Type III GF40 — frequently asked
What is LCP Type III GF40 used for?
LCP Type III GF40 is typically used for general industrial connectors, cookware/appliance parts, fiber-optic components and chemical process fittings. In short: lowest-cost LCP family; balanced processability and performance; metallizable with LDS grades.
What is the tensile strength of LCP Type III GF40?
LCP Type III GF40 has a typical tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — stronger than 97% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is LCP Type III GF40 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades). Machinable with sharp carbide/PCD tooling and high speed, light feed; the skin fibrillates and filled grades are abrasive, so avoid dull tools and deburr carefully.
Can LCP Type III GF40 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). No solvent bonding; use laser or ultrasonic (near-field) welding, heat staking or adhesives after plasma/flame surface activation — weld and knit lines carry only a fraction of the bulk strength.
What surface finishes work on LCP Type III GF40?
Accepts vapour-deposited/electroless metallisation and laser marking; painting or printing needs surface pretreatment because the resin is inherently low-energy and solvent resistant.
Can LCP Type III GF40 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mould at 285–330 °C melt with 60–130 °C tools, thoroughly dried (≈150 °C, 4 h, <0.01 % moisture); design gates to control the highly directional fibrillar orientation and place weld lines away from load paths.
What is the maximum service temperature of LCP Type III GF40?
LCP Type III GF40 is rated for continuous use to about 170°C (338 °F), and briefly to 230°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D6779 – Standard Classification System for Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) Materials — ASTM International (2022)
- Vectra LCP product and processing guides — Celanese (2023)
- LAPEROS LCP technical data — Polyplastics (2023)
- SUMIKASUPER LCP grade list — Sumitomo Chemical (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database – LCP grade data — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
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.