TECANAT® GF20 Rod, Unground

TECANAT® GF20 is polycarbonate reinforced with 20% glass fiber, trading the transparency of unfilled PC for a large gain in stiffness and dimensional stability. Tensile strength is 11,000 psi with a tensile modulus of 700,000 psi; flexural strength is 16,700 psi on a 600,000 psi flexural modulus. Heat deflection temperature is 298°F at 66 psi and 295°F at 264 psi, with 266°F long-term service and a 329°F Vicat point. CLTE falls to 1.5 x 10^-5 in/in·°F and water absorption is 0.07% in 24 hours, so machined parts stay on size across temperature and humidity swings.

It is used in aircraft and aerospace hardware, automotive components, electrical engineering, and tooling fixtures, inspection gauges and structural housings. The UL 94 rating is V-0, dielectric strength is 490 V/mil and volume resistivity is 1 x 10^17 Ω·cm, which suits it to insulating structural parts. Glass fiber is abrasive, so use carbide tooling and expect a coarser finish than unfilled polycarbonate. Limitations: it is notch-sensitive and much less impact-tolerant than unfilled PC, it is opaque, and polycarbonate is prone to stress cracking in contact with alkalis, ketones and chlorinated solvents, so choose cutting fluids carefully.