PPE/PPO GF20
Reinforced grade
ISO PPE · also Noryl, Vestoran
GF20 = 20% glass-fiber reinforced modified PPO
Intermediate stiffness/heat step when GF30 would be too brittle or too warp-prone.
Values for the GF20 condition
Other PPE/PPO grades and fills
PPE/PPO is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at PPE/PPO.
Compare all 9 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified (high-flow toughened) modified PPO | For large thin-wall housings and automotive interior parts needing ductility and easy filling rather than heat resistance. | — | 45 | 60 | 112 HRR |
non-halogen flame-retardant modified PPO | Choose for photovoltaic junction boxes, EV connectors, breakers and battery parts needing UL 94 V-0 without halogens. | — | 55 | 25 | — |
Mineral/talc-filled modified PPO | Low-warpage, isotropic-shrinkage grade for flat cosmetic panels and metal-plated decorative parts. | — | 55 | 12 | — |
UV-stabilized / weatherable modified PPO | Use for outdoor enclosures, PV components and water-meter housings where unstabilized PPO would chalk and yellow. | 56 | 58 | 40 | 79 Shore D |
ESD / conductive | For electronics trays, chip carriers and fuel-system parts needing static dissipation with PPO's dimensional stability. | — | 60 | 8 | — |
High-heat grade | Pick when continuous service above 120 °C or lead-free soldering/steam exposure is required; harder to mold (higher melt temperature). | — | 68 | 30 | — |
GF20This page 20% glass-fiber reinforced modified PPO | Intermediate stiffness/heat step when GF30 would be too brittle or too warp-prone. | — | 95 | 4 | — |
30% glass-fiber reinforced modified PPO | Standard structural grade: roughly triple the stiffness and ~25 °C higher HDT with much reduced CTE, at the cost of notched impact and surface finish. | — | 115 | 3.5 | 90 HRM |
40% glass-fiber reinforced modified PPO | Maximum stiffness/lowest CTE PPO compound for load-bearing brackets and precision frames; brittle and abrasive to tooling. | — | 130 | 2.5 | 93 HRM |
What is PPE/PPO GF20?
PPE/PPO GF20 is PPE/PPO in the GF20 grade — intermediate stiffness/heat step when GF30 would be too brittle or too warp-prone. PPE/PPO GF20 has a yield strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) and a tensile strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) — stronger than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 6 GPa (0.87 Msi). PPE/PPO GF20 has a density of 1.21 g/cm³ (0.0437 lb/in³), heavier than 60% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 150°C (302 °F).
Advantages
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.3%, better than 90% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 6 GPa (0.87 Msi), better than 89% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.07%, better than 81% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.27 W/m·K (0.156 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 4%, worse than 78% of polymer grades
PPE/PPO GF20 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PPE/PPO GF20; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PPE/PPO reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PPE/PPO GF20 has a density of 1.21 g/cm³ (0.0437 lb/in³), heavier than 60% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 150°C (302 °F).
Mechanical14
PPE/PPO GF20 has a yield strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) and a tensile strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) — stronger than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 6 GPa (0.87 Msi).
Thermal11
PPE/PPO GF20 is rated for continuous service to 105°C (221 °F). It conducts heat at 0.27 W/m·K (0.156 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 30 µm/m·K (16.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PPE/PPO GF20 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PPE/PPO GF20 takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability8
PPE/PPO GF20's machinability is good (58/100, worse than 55% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PPE/PPO GF20
Is PPE/PPO easy to machine?
Machines easily with sharp tools, high rake and air/water-mist cooling; avoid solvent-based cutting fluids (ketones/aromatics) which cause stress cracking, and annealing after heavy cuts relieves residual stress.
Can PPE/PPO be welded?
Excellent for ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin and vibration welding; solvent bonding and adhesive bonding also work but choose non-aggressive solvents; glass-filled grades weld at reduced strength.
Can PPE/PPO be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 2–4 h at 100–110 °C, mold at 260–310 °C melt / 70–110 °C tool with generous gates and moderate injection speed; predryable, low-shrink (0.5–0.7 %) and nearly moisture-insensitive, sheet thermoforms well above Tg.
What surface finishes work on PPE/PPO?
Takes paint and vacuum metallizing readily; PPO/PS blends are among the few engineering plastics with dedicated electroless-plateable grades, but pretreatment chemistry must avoid aromatic solvents.
PPE/PPO 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 |
|---|---|---|
| poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE resin content of the blend; higher PPE = higher HDT, harder to process | 30 – 70 | 50 |
| stabilizers, pigments, processing aids | 0.5 – 3 | 2 |
| glass fiber0 in unfilled default; 20/30/40 wt% in GF variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| non-halogen flame retardant (aryl phosphonly in FR V-0 grades | 0 – 15 | 0 |
| polystyrene / HIPSmiscible blend partner giving flow and cost reduction; rubber-modified in impact grades | ≥ 30 (balance) | — |
PPE/PPO GF20 — frequently asked
What is PPE/PPO GF20 used for?
PPE/PPO GF20 is typically used for electrical enclosures and connectors, automotive instrument panels and HVAC housings, water pump and plumbing components (hot water resistance), appliance housings and medical device housings. In short: lightest engineering thermoplastic; very low moisture uptake; plateable amorphous resin.
What is the yield strength of PPE/PPO GF20?
PPE/PPO GF20 has a typical yield strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) and a tensile strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) — stronger than 66% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is PPE/PPO GF20 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, worse than 55% of polymer grades). Machines easily with sharp tools, high rake and air/water-mist cooling; avoid solvent-based cutting fluids (ketones/aromatics) which cause stress cracking, and annealing after heavy cuts relieves residual stress.
Can PPE/PPO GF20 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent for ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin and vibration welding; solvent bonding and adhesive bonding also work but choose non-aggressive solvents; glass-filled grades weld at reduced strength.
What surface finishes work on PPE/PPO GF20?
Takes paint and vacuum metallizing readily; PPO/PS blends are among the few engineering plastics with dedicated electroless-plateable grades, but pretreatment chemistry must avoid aromatic solvents.
Can PPE/PPO GF20 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 2–4 h at 100–110 °C, mold at 260–310 °C melt / 70–110 °C tool with generous gates and moderate injection speed; predryable, low-shrink (0.5–0.7 %) and nearly moisture-insensitive, sheet thermoforms well above Tg.
What is the maximum service temperature of PPE/PPO GF20?
PPE/PPO GF20 is rated for continuous use to about 105°C (221 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Noryl resin (PPE+PS) product datasheets — 731, GFN2/GFN3, NH/FR series — SABIC Specialties (2023)
- Xyron modified PPE grade list — Asahi Kasei (2022)
- VESTORAN PPE compounds technical data — Evonik (2021)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PPE+PS / PPE+PS-GF entries — CWFG/CAMPUS (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 15103 Plastics — Poly(phenylene ether) (PPE) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2007)
- ASTM D256 / D638 / D648 / D790 test methods — ASTM (2022)
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.