PP GF30 — Polypropylene 30% Glass Fiber Reinforced
Polypropylene 30% Glass Fiber Reinforced
PP GF30 is a polypropylene reinforced with 30 % glass fiber, which gains substantial rigidity, mechanical strength and heat resistance over virgin PP while staying lightweight and economical. It is a common structural material in automotive (under-hood, brackets) and for loaded technical parts.
- Mold temperature: 40-80°C
- Melt temperature: 220-260°C
- Shrinkage: 0.3-0.8%
- Density: 1.12-1.14
- Manufacturer grades: Hostacom G3 N01 (LyondellBasell), Celstran PP-GF30 (Celanese)
Processing
The PP base is non-hygroscopic and glass fiber does not absorb water: no drying is required. Run the melt between 220 and 260 °C with a mold regulated between 40 and 80 °C. Shrinkage is low but anisotropic (0.3 to 0.8 %) due to fiber orientation: balance the fill and cooling to limit warpage, and favor sustained injection speeds since surfacing fibers degrade the finish.
Advantages
- No drying required (PP base and glass both non-hygroscopic)
- High rigidity and mechanical strength vs virgin PP
- Better heat and creep resistance thanks to the glass reinforcement
- Lightweight and economical for a structural part
Limitations
- Anisotropic shrinkage (0.3 to 0.8 %) prone to warpage from fiber orientation
- Mechanically weak weld lines: fibers do not bridge the junction
- Surface finish degraded by surfacing fibers
- Abrasive on screw, barrel and nozzle (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 weld line: mechanically weak zone, reposition the junction or add an overflow well
- Flow marks — Melt front too cold: raise melt temperature and injection speed
Typical applications
Structural automotive parts, engine mounts, center consoles