PGA
also Dexon
A simple aliphatic polyester with very high crystallinity, strength and hydrolytic degradation rate, historically the first synthetic resorbable suture material and now used as a barrier layer with PLA/PBS in high-gas-barrier bottles.
Reference datasheet — PGA 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.
PGA grades and fills
PGA is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PGA/PLA (or PBS) barrier compound | Compounded blend that adds PGA's barrier and heat resistance to PLA/PBS films and trays while lowering resin cost. | 62 | 70 | 30 | 80 Shore D |
Downhole dissolvable / oilfield tool grade | High-MW, high-crystallinity resin for frac plugs, balls and dissolvable sleeves that hydrolyze predictably in hot brine (60–120 °C). | 105 | 115 | 6 | 86 Shore D |
PGA/PLA copolymer 90:10 | Copolymerizing ~10% L-lactide lowers crystallinity and stiffness and gives a softer, more pliable braided suture with a 3–5 week strength profile. | 380 | 600 | 25 | 82 Shore D |
Melt-spun fiber / suture grade | Pick when high drawn-fiber tenacity and a 2–4 week strength-retention profile are required (Dexon-type absorbable sutures, scaffolds). | 450 | 800 | 22 | 87 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PGA is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FILM | High-molecular-weight film / coextrusion barrier grade | Supply form |
MED | Medical / implant grade | Certification |
NATDefault | Unfilled / natural barrier-resin grade | Standard supply |
What is PGA?
A simple aliphatic polyester with very high crystallinity, strength and hydrolytic degradation rate, historically the first synthetic resorbable suture material and now used as a barrier layer with PLA/PBS in high-gas-barrier bottles. PGA has a density of 1.58 g/cm³ (0.0571 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 40°C (104 °F). PGA has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
What is PGA used for?
- resorbable surgical sutures
- gas-barrier layer in PET/PLA bottles
- oilfield degradable frac balls/plugs
- medical scaffolds
Advantages
- High strength — 95 MPa (13.8 ksi), better than 93% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 7 GPa (1.02 Msi), better than 90% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 35/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 50°C (122 °F), worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.58 g/cm³ (0.0571 lb/in³), worse than 92% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.8%, worse than 80% of polymer grades
PGA properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PGA has a density of 1.58 g/cm³ (0.0571 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 40°C (104 °F).
Mechanical11
PGA has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
Thermal7
PGA is rated for continuous service to 50°C (122 °F). It conducts heat at 0.22 W/m·K (0.127 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 60% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 75 µm/m·K (41.7 µin/in·°F).
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 99% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PGA takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 3.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 96% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
PGA's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability good (60/100); formability fair (45/100).
Common Calculations5
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. PGA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PGA
Is PGA easy to machine?
Machines like a hard, brittle polyester — sharp tools, light depth of cut, no water-based coolant (hydrolysis); keep stock dried and sealed.
Can PGA be welded?
Ultrasonic, hot-plate and IR welding work but the melt window is narrow (225–250 °C); above ~255 °C the polymer decomposes and generates gas/acid.
Can PGA be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <50 ppm before processing, use short residence time, corrosion-resistant screws/hot runners, and a 70–110 °C mold for full crystallization; thermoform/orient just above Tg (50–80 °C).
PGA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sn (catalyst residue, as stannous octoatrestricted in medical grades | 0 – 0.02 | 0.01 |
| residual glycolide monomercontrols hydrolysis onset and color | 0 – 0.5 | 0.1 |
| glycolic acid repeat unit (—O—CH2—CO—)homopolymer of glycolide (1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione); ring-opening polymerization | balance |
What surface finishes work on PGA?
Solvent-free finishing only (mechanical trim, dry tumbling); avoid aqueous cleaning, steam and alkaline detergents, and use EtO or e-beam rather than autoclave sterilization.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PGA in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Dexon
- Also called
- Polyglycolide
How much does PGA cost?
PGA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PGA — frequently asked
What is PGA used for?
PGA is typically used for resorbable surgical sutures, gas-barrier layer in PET/PLA bottles, oilfield degradable frac balls/plugs and medical scaffolds. In short: strongest resorbable polyester; fastest hydrolytic degradation; top-barrier bio-polyester.
What is the yield strength of PGA?
PGA has a typical yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 93% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is PGA easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machines like a hard, brittle polyester — sharp tools, light depth of cut, no water-based coolant (hydrolysis); keep stock dried and sealed.
Can PGA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Ultrasonic, hot-plate and IR welding work but the melt window is narrow (225–250 °C); above ~255 °C the polymer decomposes and generates gas/acid.
What surface finishes work on PGA?
Solvent-free finishing only (mechanical trim, dry tumbling); avoid aqueous cleaning, steam and alkaline detergents, and use EtO or e-beam rather than autoclave sterilization.
Can PGA be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <50 ppm before processing, use short residence time, corrosion-resistant screws/hot runners, and a 70–110 °C mold for full crystallization; thermoform/orient just above Tg (50–80 °C).
What is the maximum service temperature of PGA?
PGA is rated for continuous use to about 50°C (122 °F), and briefly to 110°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PGA cost?
PGA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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
- Kuredux PGA resin technical data and processing guide — Kureha Corporation (2023)
- PGA (polyglycolic acid) resin grades — Pujing Chemical (2024)
- Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers / Biopolymers: Polyesters — Wiley-VCH (2011)
- USP <861> Sutures — Diameter / Absorbable surgical suture monographs — USP (2022)
- ISO 10993 Biological evaluation of medical devices — ISO (2018)
- CAMPUS / Prospector biopolymer property listings — CAMPUS / UL Prospector (2024)
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.