Xydar GF50
Reinforced grade
ISO LCP
GF50 = 50 % glass-fiber reinforced
Highest-modulus glass grade for structural, near-metal-replacement parts; flow and surface finish degrade.
Values for the GF50 condition
Other Xydar grades and fills
Xydar is listed in 11 conditions; see the grade overview at Xydar.
Compare all 11 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mineral-filled | Pick for very high HDT with isotropic shrinkage, smooth surface and low abrasion of hot-runner tooling. | — | 90 | 1.5 | 90 Shore D |
Bearing / wear grade | Use for high-PV bushings, thrust washers and seal faces running hot and dry. | — | 100 | 1.5 | 88 Shore D |
Glass + mineral hybrid filled | Best choice when the part must survive lead-free reflow with minimal warpage — highest HDT with balanced shrinkage. | — | 110 | 1.4 | 92 Shore D |
High-reflectance white LED-reflector grade | TiO2-pigmented, low-outgassing compound for LED housings that must hold whiteness through reflow and long blue-light exposure. | — | 110 | 1.5 | 91 Shore D |
Conductive / ESD grade | Specify for IC trays, burn-in sockets and cleanroom fixtures needing controlled surface resistance at high temperature. | — | 120 | 1.5 | 89 Shore D |
NEATDefault Unfilled / natural | Pure LCP resin for thin-wall electrical parts, films and compounding base where maximum toughness and lowest dielectric loss matter. | — | 130 | 2.5 | 88 Shore D |
15 % glass-fiber reinforced | Light reinforcement when higher stiffness is needed but flow into very thin walls must be preserved. | — | 145 | 2.8 | 89 Shore D |
30 % glass-fiber reinforced | The workhorse connector/SMT grade — best balance of strength, stiffness, HDT and moldability. | — | 150 | 2 | — |
GF50This page 50 % glass-fiber reinforced | Highest-modulus glass grade for structural, near-metal-replacement parts; flow and surface finish degrade. | — | 150 | 1.3 | 91 Shore D |
40 % glass-fiber reinforced | Choose for maximum stiffness and load-bearing high-temperature brackets and coil bobbins. | — | 155 | 1.6 | 90 Shore D |
30 % carbon-fiber reinforced | For maximum specific stiffness, low CTE and static-dissipative wafer-handling / semiconductor parts. | — | 190 | 1.2 | 91 Shore D |
What is Xydar GF50?
Xydar GF50 is Xydar in the GF50 grade — highest-modulus glass grade for structural, near-metal-replacement parts; flow and surface finish degrade. Xydar GF50 has a tensile strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi), stronger than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.3% and the elastic modulus is 19.5 GPa (2.83 Msi). Xydar GF50 has a density of 1.85 g/cm³ (0.0668 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 135°C (275 °F). NEAT is the default condition FabDigit quotes; GF50 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 19.5 GPa (2.83 Msi), better than 100% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.05%, better than 100% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.45 W/m·K (0.26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 97% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), better than 94% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1.3%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.85 g/cm³ (0.0668 lb/in³), worse than 96% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 91% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 10 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of polymer grades
Xydar GF50 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Xydar GF50; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Xydar reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Xydar GF50 has a density of 1.85 g/cm³ (0.0668 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 135°C (275 °F).
Mechanical12
Xydar GF50 has a tensile strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi), stronger than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.3% and the elastic modulus is 19.5 GPa (2.83 Msi).
Thermal10
Xydar GF50 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 0.45 W/m·K (0.26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 97% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 8 µm/m·K (4.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Xydar GF50 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 (92/100), better than 91% of polymer grades. UV resistance is good.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Xydar GF50 takes about 220 MJ of energy and emits 10 kg of CO₂ — more than 90% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
Xydar GF50's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Xydar GF50
Is Xydar easy to machine?
Machinable from extruded stock with sharp PCD/carbide tooling, high speed and light feed, but the fibrillar skin tends to splinter and glass-filled grades are highly abrasive; avoid sharp internal corners.
Can Xydar be welded?
Ultrasonic and vibration welding give weak joints because of the skin-core morphology and near-zero knit-line strength; laser welding, heat staking with generous bosses or high-temperature adhesives are preferred.
Can Xydar be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 350–400 °C melt with 80–150 °C tools; extremely low melt viscosity fills 0.2 mm walls but demands tight tool venting, minimal clearances to prevent flash, and gate placement that avoids weld lines; dry 3–4 h at 150 °C before molding.
What surface finishes work on Xydar?
Molded surface is a self-skinned, low-friction finish; parts accept laser marking and vacuum metallization or LDS/plating on selected compounds, but paint and adhesive bonding need plasma or chemical pretreatment.
Xydar 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) unitsprimary mesogenic monomer of Type I wholly aromatic polyester | 50 – 80 | 60 |
| 4,4'-biphenol units | 10 – 25 | 20 |
| terephthalic acid unitsmay be partly replaced by isophthalic acid to tune Tm | 10 – 25 | 20 |
| glass fiber0 % in unfilled default grade; 15–50 % in reinforced grades | 0 – 50 | 0 |
| mineral filler (talc/mica/wollastonite)used in MG / hybrid grades for isotropic shrinkage | 0 – 45 | 0 |
Xydar GF50 — frequently asked
What is Xydar GF50 used for?
Xydar GF50 is typically used for surface-mount sockets, lamp/reflector components, chemical process valve parts and aerospace insulators. In short: highest-heat LCP family; type I wholly aromatic resin; reflow-stable thin-wall parts.
What is the tensile strength of Xydar GF50?
Xydar GF50 has a typical tensile strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) — stronger than 95% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is Xydar GF50 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades). Machinable from extruded stock with sharp PCD/carbide tooling, high speed and light feed, but the fibrillar skin tends to splinter and glass-filled grades are highly abrasive; avoid sharp internal corners.
Can Xydar GF50 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Ultrasonic and vibration welding give weak joints because of the skin-core morphology and near-zero knit-line strength; laser welding, heat staking with generous bosses or high-temperature adhesives are preferred.
What surface finishes work on Xydar GF50?
Molded surface is a self-skinned, low-friction finish; parts accept laser marking and vacuum metallization or LDS/plating on selected compounds, but paint and adhesive bonding need plasma or chemical pretreatment.
Can Xydar GF50 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 350–400 °C melt with 80–150 °C tools; extremely low melt viscosity fills 0.2 mm walls but demands tight tool venting, minimal clearances to prevent flash, and gate placement that avoids weld lines; dry 3–4 h at 150 °C before molding.
What is the maximum service temperature of Xydar GF50?
Xydar GF50 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F), and briefly to 300°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Xydar LCP product and processing data sheets — Solvay Specialty Polymers (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — Liquid Crystal Polymers — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector LCP grade data — CAMPUS Consortium / UL (2023)
- ISO 527, ISO 178, ISO 75, UL 94, IEC 60243 test methods — ISO / UL / IEC (2021)
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.