Vectra A230
Reinforced grade
ISO LCP
A230 = 30% carbon-fiber reinforced
Highest specific stiffness plus static-dissipative surface and low wear — pick for precision fixtures, wafer handling and ESD-sensitive parts.
Values for the A230 condition
Other Vectra grades and fills
Vectra is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at Vectra.
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 | — |
A230This page 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 | — |
What is Vectra A230?
Vectra A230 is Vectra in the A230 grade — highest specific stiffness plus static-dissipative surface and low wear — pick for precision fixtures, wafer handling and ESD-sensitive parts. Vectra A230 has a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi), stronger than 99% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.4% and the elastic modulus is 24 GPa (3.48 Msi). Vectra A230 has a density of 1.5 g/cm³ (0.0542 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F). A950 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; A230 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 24 GPa (3.48 Msi), better than 100% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.8 W/m·K (0.462 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.1%, better than 99% 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
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1.4%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.5 g/cm³ (0.0542 lb/in³), worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
Vectra A230 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Vectra A230; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Vectra reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Vectra A230 has a density of 1.5 g/cm³ (0.0542 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 110°C (230 °F).
Mechanical9
Vectra A230 has a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi), stronger than 99% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.4% and the elastic modulus is 24 GPa (3.48 Msi).
Thermal10
Vectra A230 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 0.8 W/m·K (0.462 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Vectra A230 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 A230 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 A230's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Vectra A230
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.
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.
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) | — |
Vectra A230 — frequently asked
What is Vectra A230 used for?
Vectra A230 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 A230?
Vectra A230 has a typical tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — stronger than 99% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is Vectra A230 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 A230 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 A230?
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 A230 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 A230?
Vectra A230 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.