Vectra
ISO LCP
Vectra is a thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) family from Celanese, originally Hoechst Celanese/Ticona, supplied unfilled and in glass, mineral, carbon, LDS and ESD compounds (A950, A115, A130, A150, A230, MIN-GF, E130i, MT, LUB).
Reference datasheet — Vectra 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.
Values for the A950 condition
Vectra grades and fills
Vectra is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. A950 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mineral / mineral-glass filled, low-warpage | Choose when flatness and isotropic shrinkage matter more than peak strength — e.g. flat covers, sockets with tight coplanarity. | 120 | 2 | 89 Shore D | |
laser direct structuring, plateable | Contains a laser-activatable metal-organic additive so circuit traces can be laser-written and copper-plated on the molded part (MID/antenna). | 130 | 1.5 | 90 Shore D | |
Lubricated / wear grade | Bearing and sliding-contact version with reduced friction and wear rate at high PV and high temperature. | 130 | 1.8 | 85 Shore D | |
ESD / conductive | Static-dissipative to conductive LCP for semiconductor handling trays, test sockets and EMI-relevant hardware. | 150 | 1.7 | 89 Shore D | |
High-heat E-series, 30% glass, lead-free reflow | Higher-melting E-series chemistry for 260–290 °C lead-free reflow with low blistering and very low outgassing. | 160 | 2 | ||
50% glass-fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness/HDT and lowest CTE for structural or coplanarity-critical parts; flow and toughness drop noticeably. | 170 | 1.5 | ||
15% glass-fiber reinforced | Light glass loading when you need better dimensional balance and stiffness but must keep thin-wall flow close to unfilled. | 175 | 2.8 | 90 Shore D | |
A950Default Unfilled natural A-series LCP | Base unfilled HBA/HNA resin — pick for maximum flow, thinnest walls, best chemical/dielectric purity and self-reinforced anisotropic strength. | 182 | 3.4 | ||
30% glass-fiber reinforced | The default choice for SMT connectors and reflow-exposed housings: high modulus, 230 °C HDT, controlled warpage. | 185 | 2.4 | ||
30% carbon-fiber reinforced | Highest specific stiffness plus static-dissipative surface and low wear — pick for precision fixtures, wafer handling and ESD-sensitive parts. | 200 | 1.4 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Vectra is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MT | Medical technology grade | Certification |
What is Vectra?
Vectra is a thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) family from Celanese, originally Hoechst Celanese/Ticona, supplied unfilled and in glass, mineral, carbon, LDS and ESD compounds (A950, A115, A130, A150, A230, MIN-GF, E130i, MT, LUB). Engineers use it as the reference resin for SMT-solderable, high-flow, thin-wall injection-molded parts; the default condition shows 1.4 g/cm3 density, 182 MPa tensile strength, 3.4 % elongation, 10.6 GPa modulus and 200 C maximum service temperature. Properties are strongly anisotropic and weld lines retain only about 20-40 % of flow-direction strength. Xydar is the nearest alternative when higher heat deflection is required. Vectra has a density of 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F). Vectra has a tensile strength of 182 MPa (26.4 ksi), stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3.4% and the elastic modulus is 10.6 GPa (1.54 Msi).
What is Vectra used for?
- SMT connectors
- camera module housings
- micro-precision gears
- RF/antenna components
Advantages
- Stiff — 10.6 GPa (1.54 Msi), better than 96% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.2%, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.03%, better than 88% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 87% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 90/100, better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 3.4%, worse than 80% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), worse than 79% of polymer grades
Vectra properties
Typical room-temperature values for Vectra-A950; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Vectra has a density of 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F).
Mechanical9
Vectra has a tensile strength of 182 MPa (26.4 ksi), stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3.4% and the elastic modulus is 10.6 GPa (1.54 Msi).
Thermal10
Vectra is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 0.25 W/m·K (0.144 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 72% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 5 µm/m·K (2.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Vectra is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 35 kV/mm (889 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 82% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Vectra takes about 180 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 87% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
Vectra's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations4
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. Vectra is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Vectra
Is Vectra easy to machine?
Machinable with sharp carbide/PCD tools and high speed, low feed, but the fibrillar skin tends to fuzz and delaminate at edges; avoid deep interrupted cuts and support thin webs.
Can Vectra be welded?
Solvent and ultrasonic welding are unreliable because of the anisotropic skin; use laser transmission welding, heat staking, insert molding or mechanical/adhesive joints (surface pretreatment required for bonding).
Can Vectra be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 285–330 °C (E-series to ~350 °C) with 40–130 °C molds, small gates and very high injection speed; dry 4 h at 150 °C, place gates to steer flow because weld lines retain only ~20–40 % of flow-direction strength.
Vectra 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) unitA-series copolyester backbone | 70 – 75 | 73 |
| glass fiber0 for unfilled A950; 15/30/40/50 % in reinforced grades | 0 – 50 | 0 |
| carbon fiberA230-type grades | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| mineral filler (talc/wollastonite)low-warpage grades | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA) unitbalance of A-series backbone | ≥ 25 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Vectra?
Molded surfaces reproduce the tool finish well; can be laser-marked, vacuum-metallized or (with LDS grades) laser-activated and electrolessly copper/nickel/gold plated — painting needs plasma or primer pretreatment.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Vectra in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- LCP
How much does Vectra cost?
Vectra is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
Vectra — frequently asked
What is Vectra used for?
Vectra is typically used for SMT connectors, camera module housings, micro-precision gears and RF/antenna components. In short: industry reference LCP resin; high-flow thin-wall molding; LDS-platable grades available.
What is the tensile strength of Vectra?
Vectra has a typical tensile strength of 182 MPa (26.4 ksi) — stronger than 98% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is Vectra easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machinable with sharp carbide/PCD tools and high speed, low feed, but the fibrillar skin tends to fuzz and delaminate at edges; avoid deep interrupted cuts and support thin webs.
Can Vectra be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Solvent and ultrasonic welding are unreliable because of the anisotropic skin; use laser transmission welding, heat staking, insert molding or mechanical/adhesive joints (surface pretreatment required for bonding).
What surface finishes work on Vectra?
Molded surfaces reproduce the tool finish well; can be laser-marked, vacuum-metallized or (with LDS grades) laser-activated and electrolessly copper/nickel/gold plated — painting needs plasma or primer pretreatment.
Can Vectra be formed, bent or molded?
Inject at 285–330 °C (E-series to ~350 °C) with 40–130 °C molds, small gates and very high injection speed; dry 4 h at 150 °C, place gates to steer flow because weld lines retain only ~20–40 % of flow-direction strength.
What is the maximum service temperature of Vectra?
Vectra is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F), and briefly to 280°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Vectra cost?
Vectra is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- Vectra Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) product and processing brochure — Celanese (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics data for Vectra A950 / A130 / E130i — CAMPUS / Celanese (2023)
- ISO 527, ISO 178, ISO 75, ISO 180 test methods — ISO (2019)
- UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials — UL (2020)
- Engineering Plastics — Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 (LCP chapter) — ASM International (1988)
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.