Zenite GF40
Reinforced grade
ISO LCP
GF40 = 40 % glass-fiber reinforced
Maximum stiffness/HDT injection grade for larger structural connectors and parts loaded at 200 °C+.
Values for the GF40 condition
Other Zenite grades and fills
Zenite is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at Zenite.
Compare all 8 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mineral / mineral+glass filled | Choose when flatness, isotropic shrinkage or a smooth plateable/laser-markable surface matters more than peak strength. | — | 110 | 1.5 | — |
Wear / lubricated grade | Bearing and sliding parts at high PV and high temperature where a low, stable friction coefficient is needed. | — | 110 | 1.5 | 86 Shore D |
ESD / conductive | Static-dissipative trays, carriers and burn-in sockets where surface resistivity must sit in the 10^4–10^9 Ω range. | — | 130 | 1.5 | 89 Shore D |
High-heat series, glass reinforced | Higher-Tm LCP for lead-free reflow at 260–290 °C, blister-free thin walls and continuous use near 250 °C. | — | 145 | 1.6 | — |
30 % glass-fiber reinforced | The workhorse connector grade: higher stiffness and HDT with acceptable flow for 0.3–0.5 mm walls and IR/vapour-phase reflow. | — | 150 | 1.8 | — |
GF40This page 40 % glass-fiber reinforced | Maximum stiffness/HDT injection grade for larger structural connectors and parts loaded at 200 °C+. | — | 160 | 1.5 | — |
UFDefault Unfilled / Natural | Pick for the thinnest walls, best flow and highest ductility/impact, or where fiber wash and abrasion of tooling must be avoided. | — | 165 | 3.5 | — |
Carbon-fiber reinforced | For maximum specific stiffness, low CTE and semi-conductive/EMI-shielding parts; darker colour only. | — | 190 | 1.3 | — |
What is Zenite GF40?
Zenite GF40 is Zenite in the GF40 grade — maximum stiffness/HDT injection grade for larger structural connectors and parts loaded at 200 °C+. Zenite GF40 has a tensile strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi), stronger than 96% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 18 GPa (2.61 Msi). Zenite GF40 has a density of 1.7 g/cm³ (0.0614 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 125°C (257 °F). UF is the default condition FabDigit quotes; GF40 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 18 GPa (2.61 Msi), better than 99% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.1%, better than 99% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 240°C (464 °F), better than 92% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.02%, better than 92% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1.5%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.7 g/cm³ (0.0614 lb/in³), worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 7 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 77% of polymer grades
Zenite GF40 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Zenite GF40; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Zenite reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Zenite GF40 has a density of 1.7 g/cm³ (0.0614 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 125°C (257 °F).
Mechanical12
Zenite GF40 has a tensile strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi), stronger than 96% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 18 GPa (2.61 Msi).
Thermal10
Zenite GF40 is rated for continuous service to 240°C (464 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Zenite GF40 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 fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Zenite GF40 takes about 145 MJ of energy and emits 7 kg of CO₂ — more than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
Zenite GF40's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Zenite GF40
Is Zenite easy to machine?
Machinable with sharp carbide/PCD tools and light feeds, but the skin fibrillates and edges fuzz; parts are normally molded net-shape rather than cut from stock.
Can Zenite be welded?
Weld/knit lines are the weak point — ultrasonic and vibration welding give low strength; prefer laser welding, adhesive-free snap fits or overmolding and place gates to avoid knit lines in loaded areas.
Can Zenite be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4 h at 150 °C, melt 330–360 °C (high-heat series 355–390 °C), mold 60–140 °C, fast injection with generous venting; near-zero shrinkage and no hold-pressure sensitivity, but design for anisotropy and avoid thick-to-thin flow reversals.
What surface finishes work on Zenite?
Takes laser marking well; adhesion for painting/plating is poor without plasma or chemical etch — use mineral-filled or LDS-capable grades where metallization is required.
Zenite 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) unitsrigid aromatic ester backbone unit | 45 – 80 | 60 |
| 4,4'-biphenol / hydroquinone unitsaromatic diol comonomer | 10 – 28 | 20 |
| terephthalic / isophthalic acid unitsaromatic diacid comonomer, ratio sets Tm | 10 – 28 | 20 |
| glass fiber0 % in default variant; 30–40 % in GF grades | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| mineral filler (talc/mica/wollastonite)low-warpage grades only | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| wholly aromatic polyester (LCP) matrixunfilled default grade; filled variants replace 30–50 wt % with glass, mineral or carbon | balance | — |
Zenite GF40 — frequently asked
What is Zenite GF40 used for?
Zenite GF40 is typically used for automotive electrical connectors, LED reflectors, fiber optic ferrules and microwave/RF components. In short: low-warpage connector LCP; 220 C service temperature; chemically resistant LCP grade.
What is the tensile strength of Zenite GF40?
Zenite GF40 has a typical tensile strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) — stronger than 96% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Zenite GF40 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades). Machinable with sharp carbide/PCD tools and light feeds, but the skin fibrillates and edges fuzz; parts are normally molded net-shape rather than cut from stock.
Can Zenite GF40 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Weld/knit lines are the weak point — ultrasonic and vibration welding give low strength; prefer laser welding, adhesive-free snap fits or overmolding and place gates to avoid knit lines in loaded areas.
What surface finishes work on Zenite GF40?
Takes laser marking well; adhesion for painting/plating is poor without plasma or chemical etch — use mineral-filled or LDS-capable grades where metallization is required.
Can Zenite GF40 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 4 h at 150 °C, melt 330–360 °C (high-heat series 355–390 °C), mold 60–140 °C, fast injection with generous venting; near-zero shrinkage and no hold-pressure sensitivity, but design for anisotropy and avoid thick-to-thin flow reversals.
What is the maximum service temperature of Zenite GF40?
Zenite GF40 is rated for continuous use to about 240°C (464 °F), and briefly to 280°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Zenite LCP product and molding guide — DuPont / Celanese (2021)
- Vectra / Zenite LCP short-term property tables — Celanese (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics ISO datasheets — liquid crystal polymer — CAMPUS (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 / ASTM D256 test methods — ISO / ASTM (2019)
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.