PBT GF15
Reinforced grade
also Crastin, Pocan
GF15 = 15% short glass fiber reinforced
Mid-way grade when you need roughly double the stiffness and 200 °C HDT but want lower warpage and better surface than GF30.
Values for the GF15 condition
Other PBT grades and fills
PBT is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at PBT.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact modified | Use where notch sensitivity or cold (-30 °C) impact is the failure mode — snap fits, exterior clips, mirror housings. | 42 | 200 | ||
PTFE/silicone lubricated bearing grade | Choose for sliding gears, cams and bushings needing low friction and wear without external lubrication. | 48 | 48 | 20 | 78 Shore D |
Flame retardant, UL 94 V-0 | Choose for electrical housings, relay bases and connectors that must carry a UL 94 V-0 listing at 0.8–1.5 mm wall. | 52 | 8 | ||
Heat stabilized | Pick for automotive electrical parts that must survive thousands of hours at 130–150 °C without embrittlement. | 55 | 55 | 80 | 82 Shore D |
ESD / conductive | Use for static-dissipative fixtures, fuel-system and electronics handling parts requiring 10^4–10^9 Ω surface resistivity. | 60 | 60 | 5 | 84 Shore D |
Mineral / glass-mineral filled, low warpage | Choose for flat, dimensionally accurate covers and lids where isotropic shrinkage and good surface beat maximum strength. | 85 | 3 | ||
GF15This page 15% short glass fiber reinforced | Mid-way grade when you need roughly double the stiffness and 200 °C HDT but want lower warpage and better surface than GF30. | 95 | 3.5 | 85 HRM | |
30% glass fiber, UL 94 V-0 | Standard for connectors, coil bobbins and switchgear needing both V-0 and >200 °C HDT with high stiffness. | 125 | 2.2 | ||
30% short glass fiber reinforced | The workhorse structural PBT: choose for stiff, creep-resistant, heat-resistant parts (connectors, housings, brackets) where warpage can be managed by gating. | 135 | 2.8 | 90 HRM | |
40% short glass fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness/strength PBT for metal-replacement structural parts; accept higher warpage, brittleness and tool wear. | 155 | 2.3 |
What is PBT GF15?
PBT GF15 is PBT in the GF15 grade — mid-way grade when you need roughly double the stiffness and 200 °C HDT but want lower warpage and better surface than GF30. PBT GF15 has a yield strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) and a tensile strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) — stronger than 62% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3.5% and the elastic modulus is 5.6 GPa (0.812 Msi). PBT GF15 has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 55°C (131 °F).
Advantages
- Stiff — 5.6 GPa (0.812 Msi), better than 89% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.28 W/m·K (0.162 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.09%, better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 3.5%, worse than 79% of polymer grades
PBT GF15 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PBT GF15; 16 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PBT reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PBT GF15 has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 55°C (131 °F).
Mechanical17
PBT GF15 has a yield strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) and a tensile strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) — stronger than 62% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3.5% and the elastic modulus is 5.6 GPa (0.812 Msi).
Thermal11
PBT GF15 is rated for continuous service to 130°C (266 °F). It conducts heat at 0.28 W/m·K (0.162 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 40 µm/m·K (22.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PBT GF15 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 23 kV/mm (584.2 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 fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PBT GF15 takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
PBT GF15's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PBT GF15
Is PBT easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp, positive-rake carbide tools and air cooling; glass-filled grades are abrasive and need diamond or coated tooling, and sharp internal corners must be avoided due to notch sensitivity.
Can PBT be welded?
Excellent for ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration, spin and laser welding (with laser-transparent/absorbing pairs); no solvent bonding — use cyanoacrylate/epoxy on abraded, primed surfaces.
Can PBT be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (120 °C, 3–4 h) to prevent hydrolytic MW loss; mold at 240–260 °C melt and 60–90 °C tool, fast fill, and expect anisotropic shrinkage in GF grades — gate to control warp.
What surface finishes work on PBT?
Takes pad printing and laser marking well; painting/metallizing needs plasma or primer pretreatment because of the low-energy, solvent-resistant surface; molded-in texture is usually preferred over polishing.
PBT 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,4-butanediol (BDO) unitdiol comonomer of the polyester backbone | ≈ 40 | 40 |
| glass fiber0 for unfilled default; 15/30/40 wt% in GF variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| flame retardant + synergistbrominated or halogen-free P-based system + Sb2O3 in FR V-0 grades | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| stabilizers / nucleant / pigmentantioxidant, hydrolysis stabilizer, mold release, carbon black | 0.2 – 2 | 0.8 |
| terephthalic acid / DMT unitdiacid comonomer; balance of resin | balance |
PBT GF15 — frequently asked
What is PBT GF15 used for?
PBT GF15 is typically used for automotive electrical connectors, relay and switch housings, coil bobbins and formers, automotive electronic control unit housings, appliance structural components and sensor bodies. In short: stronger precise PBT.
What is the yield strength of PBT GF15?
PBT GF15 has a typical yield strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) and a tensile strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) — stronger than 62% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is PBT GF15 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp, positive-rake carbide tools and air cooling; glass-filled grades are abrasive and need diamond or coated tooling, and sharp internal corners must be avoided due to notch sensitivity.
Can PBT GF15 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent for ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration, spin and laser welding (with laser-transparent/absorbing pairs); no solvent bonding — use cyanoacrylate/epoxy on abraded, primed surfaces.
What surface finishes work on PBT GF15?
Takes pad printing and laser marking well; painting/metallizing needs plasma or primer pretreatment because of the low-energy, solvent-resistant surface; molded-in texture is usually preferred over polishing.
Can PBT GF15 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (120 °C, 3–4 h) to prevent hydrolytic MW loss; mold at 240–260 °C melt and 60–90 °C tool, fast fill, and expect anisotropic shrinkage in GF grades — gate to control warp.
What is the maximum service temperature of PBT GF15?
PBT GF15 is rated for continuous use to about 130°C (266 °F), and briefly to 160°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in PBT GF15?
Yes — PBT GF15 is available for injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ISO 7792-1/-2 Plastics — Thermoplastic polyester (TP) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2012)
- ASTM D5927 Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Injection and Extrusion Materials — ASTM (2020)
- Ultradur (PBT) product range brochure and CAMPUS data — BASF (2023)
- Crastin PBT thermoplastic polyester resin product guide — Celanese (DuPont Performance Materials) (2023)
- Valox resin product data / processing guide — SABIC (2022)
- Pocan PBT technical information — LANXESS (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PBT ISO 10350 single-point data — CWFG (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.