PCL LMW (Low molecular weight grade)
Grade
Pick for hot-melt adhesives, coatings and easy-flow compounding where high melt fluidity beats mechanical strength.
Values for the LMW condition
Other PCL grades and fills
PCL is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at PCL.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PCL polyol / diol prepolymer | Liquid-to-waxy hydroxyl-terminated PCL used as the soft segment for TPU, elastomers, coatings and adhesives — not a molding resin. | 3 | 3 | 15 | 43 Shore D |
LMWThis page Low molecular weight grade | Pick for hot-melt adhesives, coatings and easy-flow compounding where high melt fluidity beats mechanical strength. | 10 | 16 | 400 | 50 Shore D |
High molecular weight grade | Choose for maximum toughness, melt strength and film/fiber extrusion, and for scaffolds needing slow degradation. | 15 | 28 | 800 | 55 Shore D |
Hydroxyapatite / β-TCP filled scaffold compound | Bioceramic-filled PCL for bone scaffolds and cranio-maxillofacial implants where stiffness and osteoconductivity matter. | 15 | 18 | 60 | 62 Shore D |
What is PCL LMW?
PCL LMW is PCL in the LMW grade — pick for hot-melt adhesives, coatings and easy-flow compounding where high melt fluidity beats mechanical strength. PCL LMW has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0.3 GPa (0.0435 Msi). PCL LMW has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0414 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -60°C (-76 °F).
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 93/100, better than 98% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 400%, better than 86% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 35°C (95 °F), worse than 100% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 48/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 10 MPa (1.45 ksi), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2.2%, worse than 87% of polymer grades
PCL LMW properties
Typical room-temperature values for PCL LMW; 27 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PCL reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PCL LMW has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0414 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -60°C (-76 °F).
Mechanical10
PCL LMW has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0.3 GPa (0.0435 Msi).
Thermal10
PCL LMW is rated for continuous service to 35°C (95 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 170 µm/m·K (94.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
PCL LMW has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (48/100), worse than 98% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PCL LMW takes about 90 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 75% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PCL LMW's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (93/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PCL LMW
Is PCL easy to machine?
Very soft and heat-sensitive — chill or cryo-machine, use sharp single-flute tools, high speed/light cut and air blast to avoid melting and smearing.
Can PCL be welded?
Excellent thermal bonding: hot-plate, hot-air, ultrasonic or simple hot-water joining at 60–80 °C gives near-parent-strength welds; solvent bonding with dichloromethane also works.
Can PCL be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 90–140 °C melt with a chilled 10–25 °C mold and long cooling time; dry lightly (40 °C) since resin degrades hydrolytically above ~180 °C; thermoform or hand-form directly from 65 °C hot water.
What surface finishes work on PCL?
Not paintable or platable without flame/plasma treatment; sanding gums up, so prefer as-molded or heat-smoothed surfaces.
PCL 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 |
|---|---|---|
| stabiliser / antioxidantoptional in molding grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| ε-caprolactone (poly(ε-caprolactone) repring-opening polymerised, typically Sn(Oct)2 catalysed; residual monomer <1 % (medical grades <0.5 %) | balance | — |
PCL LMW — frequently asked
What is PCL LMW used for?
PCL LMW is typically used for low-temp 3D printing pens/filament, hand-moldable prototyping putty, drug-delivery implants, biodegradable sutures and tissue engineering scaffolds. In short: lowest-melting biodegradable polyester; hand-formable at 60 °C; very tough, very compliant.
What is the yield strength of PCL LMW?
PCL LMW has a typical yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is PCL LMW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades). Very soft and heat-sensitive — chill or cryo-machine, use sharp single-flute tools, high speed/light cut and air blast to avoid melting and smearing.
Can PCL LMW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (93/100). Excellent thermal bonding: hot-plate, hot-air, ultrasonic or simple hot-water joining at 60–80 °C gives near-parent-strength welds; solvent bonding with dichloromethane also works.
What surface finishes work on PCL LMW?
Not paintable or platable without flame/plasma treatment; sanding gums up, so prefer as-molded or heat-smoothed surfaces.
Can PCL LMW be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 90–140 °C melt with a chilled 10–25 °C mold and long cooling time; dry lightly (40 °C) since resin degrades hydrolytically above ~180 °C; thermoform or hand-form directly from 65 °C hot water.
What is the maximum service temperature of PCL LMW?
PCL LMW is rated for continuous use to about 35°C (95 °F), and briefly to 55°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- CAPA 6000 series polycaprolactone thermoplastics — Perstorp (2021)
- Placcel H series / Placcel polyols technical data — Daicel (2020)
- Purasorb PC 12 resorbable polymer data sheet — Corbion (2022)
- Polymer Handbook, 4th ed. (aliphatic polyesters) — Wiley (1999)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polycaprolactone entries — CAMPUS (2023)
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.