LCP GF30
Reinforced grade · default condition
ASTM D5138 · also Vectra, Xydar
GF30 = 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.
Values for the GF30 condition
Other LCP grades and fills
LCP is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at LCP.
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 | ||
GF30DefaultThis page 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 |
What is LCP GF30?
LCP GF30 is LCP in the GF30 grade — default workhorse: best balance of stiffness, 230 °C HDT, reflow survival and cost for connectors, sockets and thin-wall electronic parts. LCP GF30 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). LCP GF30 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).
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 GF30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for LCP GF30; 15 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are LCP reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
LCP GF30 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 GF30 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 GF30 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 GF30 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 GF30 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 GF30'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with LCP GF30
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.
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.
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 |
LCP GF30 — frequently asked
What is LCP GF30 used for?
LCP GF30 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 GF30?
LCP GF30 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 GF30 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 GF30 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 GF30?
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 GF30 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 GF30?
LCP GF30 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in LCP GF30?
Yes — LCP GF30 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.