PA66 GF30 — Polyamide 66 30% Glass Fiber Reinforced
Polyamide 66 30% Glass Fiber Reinforced
PA66 GF30 is a polyamide 66 reinforced with 30 % glass fiber, delivering very high rigidity, excellent mechanical strength and high heat resistance (HDT). It is a major structural material in automotive (under-hood, e-mobility), electrical and industrial applications for parts heavily loaded at temperature.
- Mold temperature: 80-120°C
- Melt temperature: 280-310°C
- Shrinkage: 0.3-0.8%
- Density: 1.36-1.38
- Manufacturer grades: Ultramid A3WG6 (BASF), Zytel 70G30HSL (DuPont), Durethan AKV30 (Lanxess)
Processing
Despite the glass reinforcement, the PA66 base remains hygroscopic: drying for about 4 h at 80 °C before molding is mandatory, otherwise moisture causes hydrolysis that permanently embrittles the part. Run the melt between 280 and 310 °C with a hot mold regulated between 80 and 120 °C to control crystallinity. Low but anisotropic shrinkage requires a balanced fill to limit warpage.
Advantages
- Very high rigidity and mechanical strength (glass reinforcement)
- Excellent heat resistance (high HDT) under load
- Good resistance to hydrocarbons, oils and greases
- Low shrinkage and good dimensional accuracy vs virgin PA66
Limitations
- Hygroscopic: drying 4 h at 80 °C mandatory despite the glass
- Sensitive to hydrolysis: embrittlement if the material is not dried
- Weak and visible weld lines because of the glass
- Abrasive on tooling and screw (accelerated wear)
Common injection molding defects
- Warpage — Anisotropic shrinkage from fiber orientation: balance the fill and homogenize mold cooling
- Weld lines (weak zone) — Fibers do not bridge the junction: mechanically weak and visible zone, reposition the weld line
- Brittleness — Hydrolysis from residual moisture: imperatively dry PA66 GF30 4 h at 80 °C before molding
Typical applications
Intake manifolds, engine mounts, structural parts