LCP
ASTM D5138 · also Vectra, Xydar
LCP is a wholly aromatic copolyester whose rigid chains self-orient in the melt, giving excellent thin-wall flow, very low mold shrinkage, high heat and dimensional stability, low water absorption and a low dissipation factor at high frequency.
Values for the GF30 condition
LCP grades and fills
LCP is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. GF30 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mineral filled (~40% talc/mica/wollastonite) | Pick for lower/more isotropic shrinkage and warpage, better surface finish and laser markability where high strength is not required. | 110 | 1.8 | ||
Wear / lubricated grade | Use for small high-temperature bushings, thrust washers and sliding parts needing low friction with dimensional stability. | 110 | 1.8 | 85 Shore D | |
GF/mineral hybrid filled | Best all-round choice for dimensionally critical molded parts: near-isotropic shrinkage with most of the GF stiffness and heat resistance. | 130 | 1.7 | ||
High-heat LCP | Choose when parts must survive lead-free reflow with large metal inserts or continuous service above 240 °C; needs hotter barrel and mold. | 140 | 1.5 | ||
ESD / static-dissipative grade | Pick for chip trays, test sockets and handling tooling that must dissipate charge at high temperature. | 150 | 1.5 | 88 Shore D | |
15% glass fiber reinforced | Compromise grade when some stiffness and HDT gain is wanted but thin-wall flow and weld-line integrity must stay close to unfilled. | 165 | 2.5 | ||
neat LCP resin | Pick when maximum flow in ultra-thin walls, best dielectric loss and highest tear/impact in the flow direction matter more than stiffness or isotropy. | 180 | 3.4 | ||
GF30Default 30% glass fiber reinforced | Default workhorse: best balance of stiffness, 230 °C HDT, reflow survival and cost for connectors, sockets and thin-wall electronic parts. | 190 | 2 | ||
30% carbon fiber reinforced | Use for highest specific stiffness, lower density than glass, static-dissipative/conductive behaviour and improved heat conduction. | 195 | 1.2 | ||
40% glass fiber reinforced | Choose for maximum stiffness, highest HDT and lowest flow-direction CTE where warpage/anisotropy can be tolerated. | 200 | 1.6 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways LCP is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MED | Medical / biocompatible grade | Certification |
What is LCP?
LCP is a wholly aromatic copolyester whose rigid chains self-orient in the melt, giving excellent thin-wall flow, very low mold shrinkage, high heat and dimensional stability, low water absorption and a low dissipation factor at high frequency. Injection grades are nearly always glass- or mineral-filled (GF30 is the most common); the default runs 1.61 g/cm³, 190 MPa tensile, 15 GPa modulus, 2% elongation and 220 °C maximum service. Limits are strong anisotropy from that orientation (low transverse and weld-line strength, high transverse CTE), brittle knit lines, unreliable ultrasonic welding and high resin cost. PPS or glass-filled PPA is the nearest alternative. LCP has a density of 1.61 g/cm³ (0.0582 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F). LCP has a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi), stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 15 GPa (2.18 Msi).
What is LCP used for?
- Micro connectors
- FPC/FFC connector housings
- SMT components exposed to reflow
- 5G antenna carriers and RF supports
- Test and burn-in sockets
- Precision thin-wall electronic parts
- Relay and switch insulating bodies
Advantages
- Stiff — 15 GPa (2.18 Msi), better than 99% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.1%, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.4 W/m·K (0.231 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 220°C (428 °F), better than 89% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.61 g/cm³ (0.0582 lb/in³), worse than 93% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 9 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
LCP properties
Typical room-temperature values for LCP-GF30; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
LCP has a density of 1.61 g/cm³ (0.0582 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F).
Mechanical11
LCP has a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi), stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 15 GPa (2.18 Msi).
Thermal10
LCP is rated for continuous service to 220°C (428 °F). It conducts heat at 0.4 W/m·K (0.231 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
LCP 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 good.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of LCP takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 9 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
LCP's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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 polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. LCP is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with LCP
Is LCP easy to machine?
Machinable with sharp carbide or PCD tools at high speed and light feed, but the skin-core fiber structure chips and delaminates at edges — design to net shape by molding wherever possible.
Can LCP be welded?
Ultrasonic and vibration welding are unreliable (weak weld/knit lines); use laser welding, heat staking, adhesives with plasma pretreatment, or mechanical joints.
Can LCP be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (140 °C, 3–4 h), melt 300–350 °C, mold 60–130 °C, very fast injection with generously vented tools; gate to control fiber/molecule orientation because weld lines and transverse shrinkage govern part strength.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to LCP. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | — |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | — – — |
| Recommended draft | — |
| Pre-drying | — |
LCP 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 |
|---|---|---|
| glass fiberchopped E-glass, sized for polyester matrix (default GF30 variant) | 28 – 32 | 30 |
| pigments / processing aidscarbon black or TiO2, release agent | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| aromatic copolyester (LCP: p-hydroxybenzwholly aromatic thermotropic polyester backbone | balance |
What surface finishes work on LCP?
Molded surfaces are matte and paint/print adhesion is poor without plasma or primer; laser marking works well on mineral- and black-pigmented grades; can be selectively metallized (LDS/electroless) on grades formulated for plating.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Injection Molding Coating
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to LCP in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does LCP cost?
LCP is a specialty-cost polymer ($$$$$), pricier than about 99% 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.
LCP — frequently asked
What is LCP used for?
LCP is typically used for micro connectors, FPC/FFC connector housings, SMT components exposed to reflow, 5G antenna carriers and RF supports, test and burn-in sockets and precision thin-wall electronic parts. In short: liquid-crystal high heat.
What is the tensile strength of LCP?
LCP has a typical tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) — stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is LCP easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades). Machinable with sharp carbide or PCD tools at high speed and light feed, but the skin-core fiber structure chips and delaminates at edges — design to net shape by molding wherever possible.
Can LCP be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Ultrasonic and vibration welding are unreliable (weak weld/knit lines); use laser welding, heat staking, adhesives with plasma pretreatment, or mechanical joints.
What surface finishes work on LCP?
Molded surfaces are matte and paint/print adhesion is poor without plasma or primer; laser marking works well on mineral- and black-pigmented grades; can be selectively metallized (LDS/electroless) on grades formulated for plating.
Can LCP be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (140 °C, 3–4 h), melt 300–350 °C, mold 60–130 °C, very fast injection with generously vented tools; gate to control fiber/molecule orientation because weld lines and transverse shrinkage govern part strength.
What is the maximum service temperature of LCP?
LCP is rated for continuous use to about 220°C (428 °F), and briefly to 280°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does LCP cost?
LCP is a specialty-cost polymer ($$$$$), pricier than about 99% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in LCP?
Yes — LCP is available for injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Vectra LCP product and processing guide — Celanese (2023)
- Zenite LCP resin datasheets — Celanese (formerly DuPont) (2022)
- Sumikasuper LCP grade list — Sumitomo Chemical (2023)
- Xydar LCP technical data — Syensqo (Solvay) (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics ISO datasheets — LCP GF30/GF40 — CWFG / CAMPUS (2024)
- Engineering Plastics Handbook — liquid crystal polymers chapter — McGraw-Hill (2006)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 test methods; UL 94 flammability — ISO / UL (2020)
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.