PBT-GF30
Glass-fiber reinforced PBT compound that markedly boosts stiffness, dimensional stability and heat deflection temperature over unfilled PBT, the default choice for structural electrical/automotive connectors.
Reference datasheet — PBT-GF30 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 GF30 condition
PBT-GF30 grades and fills
PBT-GF30 is supplied in 13 conditions, soft to hard. GF30 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
- GF30-MF
- GF30-IM
- GF30-HFFR
- GF30-PTFE
- GF30-ESD
- GF30-FR-V0
- PBT/PC-GF30
- GF30-HR
- GF30-UV
- GF30-FDA
- GF30
- GF30-HS
- PBT/PET-GF30
Compare all 13 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GF30 glass/mineral hybrid | Choose for flat, dimension-critical covers and housings where anisotropic shrinkage of pure GF causes warpage. | 100 | 2.5 | 84 Shore D | |
elastomer impact-modified (toughened) | Pick for snap-fits, clips and cold-impact (-30 °C) duty where standard GF30 is too brittle. | 105 | 5 | 80 Shore D | |
GF30 halogen-free FR | Pick where halogen-free / low-corrosivity electronics specs (RoHS-plus, IEC 61249) apply and high CTI is needed. | 110 | 2.2 | 86 Shore D | |
GF30 + PTFE/silicone lubricated | Use for gears, sliders and bushings needing low friction and wear against steel while keeping GF stiffness. | 110 | 2 | 84 Shore D | |
GF30 ESD / conductive | Pick for fuel-system, electronics-handling and explosion-risk parts needing controlled surface resistivity. | 110 | 2 | 86 Shore D | |
brominated flame retardant, UL 94 V-0 | Choose for connectors, relays and switches needing UL 94 V-0 at 0.4–0.8 mm; accept higher density and slightly lower toughness. | 120 | 2.5 | ||
PBT/PC-GF30 blend | Pick for painted body/exterior parts and structural covers needing higher toughness than neat PBT-GF30; heat resistance is lower. | 120 | 4 | 84 Shore D | |
hydrolysis-resistant (chain-extended / stabilized) | Specify for parts in hot water, coolant, humid pressure-cooker or steam-sterilization service where standard PBT hydrolyzes. | 125 | 3 | 85 Shore D | |
UV/weather-stabilized (often black, laser-markable) | Choose for exterior automotive, e-mobility charging and solar-junction parts exposed to sunlight. | 128 | 2.8 | 85 Shore D | |
GF30 food-contact / FDA-compliant compound | Specify for food-machinery, coffee/appliance and drinking-water components requiring FDA 21 CFR or EU 10/2011 declarations. | 128 | 3 | 85 Shore D | |
GF30Default 30% glass fiber, natural / uncolored, unmodified | Standard structural grade: pick when you need stiffness, dimensional stability and HDT >200 °C without flame-retardant or weathering requirements. | 130 | 3 | 85 Shore D | |
heat-stabilized for long-term high-temperature air ageing | Use for under-hood or motor-adjacent parts held near 140–150 °C for thousands of hours. | 130 | 3 | 85 Shore D | |
PBT/PET-GF30 blend | Use where glossier surfaces, higher HDT and lower resin cost matter and hotter molds (>100 °C) are acceptable. | 135 | 2.5 | 86 Shore D |
What is PBT-GF30?
Glass-fiber reinforced PBT compound that markedly boosts stiffness, dimensional stability and heat deflection temperature over unfilled PBT, the default choice for structural electrical/automotive connectors. PBT-GF30 has a density of 1.53 g/cm³ (0.0553 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 50°C (122 °F). PBT-GF30 has a tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi), stronger than 94% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 10 GPa (1.45 Msi).
What is PBT-GF30 used for?
- Automotive connector housings
- Structural electrical enclosures
- Sensor housings
- Gear and bearing cages
Advantages
- Stiff — 10 GPa (1.45 Msi), better than 95% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.06%, better than 82% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.4%, better than 82% of polymer grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 3.5 MPa·√m (3.19 ksi·√in), better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.53 g/cm³ (0.0553 lb/in³), worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
PBT-GF30 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PBT-GF30-GF30; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PBT-GF30 has a density of 1.53 g/cm³ (0.0553 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 50°C (122 °F).
Mechanical15
PBT-GF30 has a tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi), stronger than 94% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 10 GPa (1.45 Msi).
Thermal11
PBT-GF30 is rated for continuous service to 130°C (266 °F). It conducts heat at 0.25 W/m·K (0.144 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 72% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 25 µm/m·K (13.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PBT-GF30 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 56% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PBT-GF30 takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 4.4 kg of CO₂ — less than 79% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
PBT-GF30's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability fair (45/100); 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. PBT-GF30 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PBT-GF30
Is PBT-GF30 easy to machine?
Machines cleanly but the 30% glass is abrasive — use sharp carbide or PCD tools, high speed, light feed, air/mist cooling, and expect fiber pull-out on thin edges.
Can PBT-GF30 be welded?
Ultrasonic, laser, hot-plate, spin and IR welding all work; joint strength is typically 40–60% of base because fibers do not cross the weld line, so design energy directors/shear joints.
Can PBT-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 245–275 °C melt and 60–100 °C mold with pellets dried to <0.02% moisture; fast crystallization gives short cycles but flow/transverse shrinkage differs (0.4% vs ~0.9%), so gate to control warpage.
PBT-GF30 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, 10–13 µm, silane sized | 29 – 31 | 30 |
| additives (heat/hydrolysis stabilizer, lFR/UV/impact packages add 5–20% in modified variants | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
| polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)matrix resin, may contain PET or PC in blend variants | ≥ 65 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PBT-GF30?
Fiber read-through limits gloss; paintable with primer, laser-markable in black grades, and platable/metallizable only with vacuum or adhesion-promoted processes — no chemical plating like ABS.
How much does PBT-GF30 cost?
PBT-GF30 is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
PBT-GF30 — frequently asked
What is PBT-GF30 used for?
PBT-GF30 is typically used for automotive connector housings, structural electrical enclosures, sensor housings and gear and bearing cages. In short: default structural PBT; stiff, dimensionally stable connector resin; fast-cycling reinforced polyester.
What is the tensile strength of PBT-GF30?
PBT-GF30 has a typical tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) — stronger than 94% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 13 listed tempers.
Is PBT-GF30 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly but the 30% glass is abrasive — use sharp carbide or PCD tools, high speed, light feed, air/mist cooling, and expect fiber pull-out on thin edges.
Can PBT-GF30 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Ultrasonic, laser, hot-plate, spin and IR welding all work; joint strength is typically 40–60% of base because fibers do not cross the weld line, so design energy directors/shear joints.
What surface finishes work on PBT-GF30?
Fiber read-through limits gloss; paintable with primer, laser-markable in black grades, and platable/metallizable only with vacuum or adhesion-promoted processes — no chemical plating like ABS.
Can PBT-GF30 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 245–275 °C melt and 60–100 °C mold with pellets dried to <0.02% moisture; fast crystallization gives short cycles but flow/transverse shrinkage differs (0.4% vs ~0.9%), so gate to control warpage.
What is the maximum service temperature of PBT-GF30?
PBT-GF30 is rated for continuous use to about 130°C (266 °F), and briefly to 190°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PBT-GF30 cost?
PBT-GF30 is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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
- ISO 7792-1/-2 Plastics — Thermoplastic polyester (TP) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2012)
- ASTM D5927 Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Materials — ASTM (2020)
- ISO 527-2 / ISO 178 / ISO 75-2 / ISO 180 test methods — ISO (2019)
- UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials — UL Solutions (2021)
- CAMPUS plastics datasheets — PBT-GF30 grades — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Ultradur B4300 G6 / B4406 G6 product data — BASF (2023)
- Celanex 2300GV1/30 product data — Celanese (2023)
- Crastin SK645FS / HR grades product data — DuPont (Celanese) (2022)
- Valox 420 / 420SEO product data — SABIC (2022)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics — 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.