PC CF20
Reinforced grade
ISO 7391 · also Calibre, Makrolon
CF20 = 20% carbon fiber reinforced
Highest specific stiffness PC compound, conductive enough for ESD housings; anisotropic and brittle.
Values for the CF20 condition
Other PC grades and fills
PC is listed in 12 conditions; see the grade overview at PC.
Compare all 12 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM/FFF filament part | For 3D-printed PC tooling and jigs: keeps PC's heat resistance but layer bonding cuts strength and impact sharply. | — | 50 | 5 | — |
PTFE-lubricated bearing grade | Internally lubricated compound for gears, bushings and sliding parts where unfilled PC would squeal and wear. | 54 | 55 | 6 | 79 Shore D |
ESD / static-dissipative compound | For electronics trays, carriers and covers requiring controlled surface resistivity; opaque, black, reduced ductility. | 58 | 60 | 20 | 85 Shore D |
UL 94 V-0 rated | For thin-wall electrical parts that must certify V-0 at 1.5 mm or less, often with 5VA option. | 61 | 63 | 90 | 85 Shore D |
Flame retardant | Choose for enclosures needing a flame rating with only a small loss of impact and heat resistance. | 62 | 65 | 100 | 84 Shore D |
Standard injection/extrusion grade (medium viscosity) | The commodity medium-viscosity molding grade (Makrolon 2405/2407, Lexan 940-class) for general housings and covers. | 63 | 66 | 110 | 84 Shore D |
10% glass fiber reinforced | Modest stiffness and shrinkage improvement while keeping usable toughness; opaque. | — | 80 | 6 | — |
20% glass fiber reinforced | Balanced stiffness/strength upgrade for structural housings and brackets. | — | 100 | 4 | — |
10% carbon fiber reinforced | Stiff, light and partially static-dissipative; used for handling fixtures and slim electronic frames. | — | 105 | 3 | — |
30% glass fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness/creep resistance and lowest shrinkage in PC; brittle and abrasive to tooling. | — | 125 | 3 | — |
CF20This page 20% carbon fiber reinforced | Highest specific stiffness PC compound, conductive enough for ESD housings; anisotropic and brittle. | — | 145 | 2 | — |
40% Glass Fiber | Highly glass-reinforced polycarbonate with maximum stiffness and dimensional stability, low CTE and near-zero ductility; used for structural housings, brackets and metal-replacement parts. | — | 150 | 2 | 93 HRM |
What is PC CF20?
PC CF20 is PC in the CF20 grade — highest specific stiffness PC compound, conductive enough for ESD housings; anisotropic and brittle. PC CF20 has a yield strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) and a tensile strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) — stronger than 74% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 14 GPa (2.03 Msi). PC CF20 has a density of 1.31 g/cm³ (0.0473 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 147°C (297 °F).
Advantages
- Stiff — 14 GPa (2.03 Msi), better than 98% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.5 W/m·K (0.289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.2%, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
PC CF20 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PC CF20; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PC reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PC CF20 has a density of 1.31 g/cm³ (0.0473 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 147°C (297 °F).
Mechanical17
PC CF20 has a yield strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) and a tensile strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) — stronger than 74% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 14 GPa (2.03 Msi).
Thermal11
PC CF20 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 0.5 W/m·K (0.289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 15 µm/m·K (8.33 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PC CF20 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 94% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PC CF20 takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 6.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
PC CF20's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability very good (75/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PC CF20
Is PC easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp, high-rake tools, high speed and low feed with air/mist cooling; anneal 1–2 h near 120 °C before/after cutting to avoid stress crazing, and never use aggressive coolants.
Can PC be welded?
Joins well by ultrasonic, hot-plate, laser and solvent/adhesive bonding (methylene-chloride or urethane/epoxy); avoid over-welding that traps stress, and dry parts first.
Can PC be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (120 °C, 3–4 h) before molding at 280–320 °C melt / 80–120 °C mold; sheet thermoforms and cold line-bends easily with generous bend radii (>1.5× thickness cold).
What surface finishes work on PC?
Takes vacuum metallizing, hard-coat (silicone/acrylic) for scratch and UV protection, pad printing and paint with PC-compatible solvent systems; polish with fine abrasives and plastic compound, and avoid alkaline or ketone cleaners.
PC 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 |
|---|---|---|
| heat/process stabilizer (phosphite, hind | 0.05 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| mold release (ester/wax) | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| UV absorber (benzotriazole/triazine)only in UV-stabilized/weatherable grades | 0 – 1 | 0 |
| glass fiberGF10–GF40 reinforced variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| carbon fiberCF10–CF30 variants | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| flame retardant (organic phosphate / sulFR / V-0 variants | 0 – 8 | 0 |
| bisphenol-A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) resinlinear aromatic polycarbonate from bisphenol A + phosgene or melt transesterification with diphenyl carbonate | ≥ 95 (balance) | — |
PC CF20 — frequently asked
What is PC CF20 used for?
PC CF20 is typically used for machine guards and safety shields, clear windows and glazing panels, lighting lenses and light pipes, electronic and instrument enclosures, medical device housings and battery and connector housings. In short: impact resistant; stiff.
What is the yield strength of PC CF20?
PC CF20 has a typical yield strength of 63 MPa (9.14 ksi) and a tensile strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) — stronger than 74% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 12 listed tempers.
Is PC CF20 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp, high-rake tools, high speed and low feed with air/mist cooling; anneal 1–2 h near 120 °C before/after cutting to avoid stress crazing, and never use aggressive coolants.
Can PC CF20 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Joins well by ultrasonic, hot-plate, laser and solvent/adhesive bonding (methylene-chloride or urethane/epoxy); avoid over-welding that traps stress, and dry parts first.
What surface finishes work on PC CF20?
Takes vacuum metallizing, hard-coat (silicone/acrylic) for scratch and UV protection, pad printing and paint with PC-compatible solvent systems; polish with fine abrasives and plastic compound, and avoid alkaline or ketone cleaners.
Can PC CF20 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.02% moisture (120 °C, 3–4 h) before molding at 280–320 °C melt / 80–120 °C mold; sheet thermoforms and cold line-bends easily with generous bend radii (>1.5× thickness cold).
What is the maximum service temperature of PC CF20?
PC CF20 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 145°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in PC CF20?
Yes — PC CF20 is available for CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Makrolon polycarbonate product datasheets and processing guide — Covestro (2023)
- LEXAN resin product datasheets — SABIC (2023)
- Panlite / Iupilon PC grade data — Teijin / Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PC ISO 10350 datasets — CWFG/CAMPUS (2024)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 7391 Plastics — Polycarbonate moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2006)
- ASTM D3935 Standard Classification System for Polycarbonate Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM (2017)
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.