GF Nylon-Like
GF Nylon-Like is a glass-fibre or glass-bead reinforced two-component polyurethane casting resin tuned to imitate injection-moulded nylon: 4 GPa modulus, 60 MPa tensile strength, Shore D 85 hardness and 1.4 g/cm³ density.
Values for the GF-STD condition
GF Nylon-Like grades and fills
GF Nylon-Like is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. GF-STD is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
natural nylon-like PU resin (no glass) | Pick when toughness, snap-fits and living hinges matter more than stiffness or HDT. | 50 | 25 | 78 Shore D | |
Flame-retardant glass-filled grade | Use for electrical enclosures and rail/aero cabin mock-ups that must pass a V-0 or equivalent burn test. | 52 | 3.5 | 84 Shore D | |
~15 % glass reinforced | Middle ground: noticeably stiffer than unfilled while keeping some ductility and easier degassing/casting. | 55 | 9 | 82 Shore D | |
UV-stabilised / pigmented (typically black) grade | Specify when parts see daylight or must match a moulded black cosmetic finish; hides the yellowing of aromatic PU. | 58 | 5 | 85 Shore D | |
GF-STDDefault Standard glass-reinforced nylon-like PU | Default choice for stiff, dimensionally stable vacuum-cast or cast-resin parts standing in for PA-GF injection mouldings. | 60 | 5 | 85 Shore D | |
Heat-resistant / high-Tg glass-filled system | Choose for under-bonnet or paint-bake style exposure where 120 °C+ short excursions are expected; needs a longer high-temperature post-cure. | 65 | 2.5 | 87 Shore D | |
~30–40 % glass reinforced | Highest stiffness and lowest CTE of the family — for jigs, housings and pressure-loaded brackets where brittleness is acceptable. | 68 | 2.5 | 88 Shore D |
What is GF Nylon-Like?
GF Nylon-Like is a glass-fibre or glass-bead reinforced two-component polyurethane casting resin tuned to imitate injection-moulded nylon: 4 GPa modulus, 60 MPa tensile strength, Shore D 85 hardness and 1.4 g/cm³ density. Engineers specify it for vacuum-cast structural parts, brackets and rapid-tooling prototypes that stand in for PA6/PA66-GF mouldings up to about 95 °C (long-term use generally below 90–110 °C). Being a crosslinked thermoset it cannot be remelted or welded, UV and hydrolysis resistance are only moderate, and 5 % elongation at break makes it notch-sensitive; use an unfilled cast PU where impact toughness matters. GF Nylon-Like has a density of 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of polyurethane grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 95°C (203 °F). GF Nylon-Like has a tensile strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi), stronger than 81% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 4 GPa (0.58 Msi).
What is GF Nylon-Like used for?
- Structural brackets
- Functional structural prototypes
- Jigs and inspection fixtures
- Small-batch replacements for PA6/PA66-GF mouldings
- Housings and covers for rapid tooling
- Fan and gearbox covers
Advantages
- Stiff — 4 GPa (0.58 Msi), better than 95% of polyurethane grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of polyurethane grades
- High service temperature — 95°C (203 °F), better than 86% of polyurethane grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.3%, better than 81% of polyurethane grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 100% of polyurethane grades
- Limited ductility — 5%, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades
- Heavy — 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), worse than 90% of polyurethane grades
GF Nylon-Like properties
Typical room-temperature values for GF Nylon-Like-GF-STD; bars are the position among polyurethane grades.
Physical4
GF Nylon-Like has a density of 1.4 g/cm³ (0.0506 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of polyurethane grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 95°C (203 °F).
Mechanical10
GF Nylon-Like has a tensile strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi), stronger than 81% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 4 GPa (0.58 Msi).
Thermal10
GF Nylon-Like is rated for continuous service to 95°C (203 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of polyurethane grades. Thermal expansion is 55 µm/m·K (30.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
GF Nylon-Like is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 18 kV/mm (457.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 100% of polyurethane grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of GF Nylon-Like takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of polyurethane grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
GF Nylon-Like's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polyurethane grades).
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 polyurethane family
Yield strength against density for every polyurethane grade FabDigit runs. GF Nylon-Like is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with GF Nylon-Like
Is GF Nylon-Like easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp carbide or PCD tools at high speed/low feed, but the glass is abrasive and the dust is respirable — use vacuum extraction and expect fast edge wear.
Can GF Nylon-Like be welded?
Thermoset — cannot be melt-welded; join with 2-K PU/epoxy adhesive, solvent-free structural acrylic, or moulded-in threaded inserts.
Can GF Nylon-Like be formed, bent or molded?
Degas and pour under vacuum into silicone tooling at 40–70 °C; keep filler in suspension by stirring, demould in 20–60 min and post-cure 2–8 h at 70–100 °C for full Tg and dimensional stability.
GF Nylon-Like 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 |
|---|---|---|
| polyol (polyester/polyether component B)resin side of the 2-K system | 35 – 55 | 45 |
| glass fiber / milled glassmilled fiber or glass microspheres, silane sized | 10 – 40 | 25 |
| mineral filler / pigment / catalyst / adtin or amine catalyst, defoamer, colourant | 0 – 8 | 3 |
| isocyanate (MDI/pMDI prepolymer componenaromatic in standard grades; aliphatic in UV-stable grades | ≥ 25 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on GF Nylon-Like?
Sands and primes readily; takes 2-K PU paint, soft-touch coating and pad printing well, and can be vacuum-metallised after a base coat — glass at the surface limits high-gloss polishing.
How much does GF Nylon-Like cost?
GF Nylon-Like is a standard-cost polyurethane ($$), cheaper than about 82% 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.
GF Nylon-Like — frequently asked
What is GF Nylon-Like used for?
GF Nylon-Like is typically used for structural brackets, functional structural prototypes, jigs and inspection fixtures, small-batch replacements for PA6/PA66-GF mouldings, housings and covers for rapid tooling and fan and gearbox covers. In short: stiffest cast PU; glass-filled-nylon-like rigidity.
What is the tensile strength of GF Nylon-Like?
GF Nylon-Like has a typical tensile strength of 60 MPa (8.7 ksi) — stronger than 81% of polyurethane grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is GF Nylon-Like easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polyurethane grades). Machines cleanly with sharp carbide or PCD tools at high speed/low feed, but the glass is abrasive and the dust is respirable — use vacuum extraction and expect fast edge wear.
Can GF Nylon-Like be welded?
Thermoset — cannot be melt-welded; join with 2-K PU/epoxy adhesive, solvent-free structural acrylic, or moulded-in threaded inserts.
What surface finishes work on GF Nylon-Like?
Sands and primes readily; takes 2-K PU paint, soft-touch coating and pad printing well, and can be vacuum-metallised after a base coat — glass at the surface limits high-gloss polishing.
Can GF Nylon-Like be formed, bent or molded?
Degas and pour under vacuum into silicone tooling at 40–70 °C; keep filler in suspension by stirring, demould in 20–60 min and post-cure 2–8 h at 70–100 °C for full Tg and dimensional stability.
What is the maximum service temperature of GF Nylon-Like?
GF Nylon-Like is rated for continuous use to about 95°C (203 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does GF Nylon-Like cost?
GF Nylon-Like is a standard-cost polyurethane ($$), cheaper than about 82% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in GF Nylon-Like?
Yes — GF Nylon-Like is available for urethane casting with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Vacuum-casting polyurethane resin datasheets (nylon-like / glass-filled series) — Axson Technologies (Sika) (2021)
- Hei-Cast / Nihon Gosei PU casting resin technical data — H&K / Hei-Cast (2020)
- Handbook of Polyurethanes — CRC Press (2017)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 test methods for plastics — ISO (2019)
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.