When engineers design structural components in automotive, industrial equipment, or electrical housings, the first question is often: “Where do I find the datasheet for PA66 GF30?” And the second question usually follows within minutes: “Should I use GF50 instead?”
PA66 reinforced with 30% or 50% glass fiber represents two of the most widely specified engineering thermoplastics in the world. Both offer the heat resistance of polyamide 66 combined with the dramatic stiffness and strength improvements that glass fiber reinforcement delivers. But the numerical gap — 30% vs 50% — does not translate linearly to performance, and assuming “more glass is always better” leads to tooling surprises, warpage problems, and cost overruns.
This article consolidates the key datasheet values for PA66 GF30 and GF50 in one place, explains what each property means in practical design terms, maps out the major commercial grades from BASF, DuPont, and DSM, and gives you a clear decision framework for choosing between them.
Quick Comparison Table: PA66 GF30 vs GF50 Datasheet Values
The values below represent typical injection molded specimens tested at 23°C in the dry-as-molded condition (DAM). Always consult the specific grade datasheet for your selected material, as formulation differences — heat stabilization, impact modification, lubricant packages — can shift individual properties by 5–15%.
| Propiedad | Unidad | PA66 GF30 | PA66 GF50 | Método de ensayo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Densidad | g/cm³ | 1.35 – 1.38 | 1.55 – 1.58 | ISO 1183 |
| Tensile Strength (Break) | MPa | 180 – 195 | 220 – 240 | ISO 527 |
| Módulo de elasticidad | MPa | 9,500 – 10,500 | 16,000 – 17,500 | ISO 527 |
| Resistencia a la flexión | MPa | 270 – 290 | 340 – 370 | ISO 178 |
| Módulo de flexión | MPa | 8,500 – 9,200 | 14,000 – 15,500 | ISO 178 |
| Resistencia al impacto con muesca según el método Charpy (23 °C) | kJ/m² | 10 – 13 | 14 – 17 | ISO 179/1eA |
| Charpy Notched Impact (−30°C) | kJ/m² | 7 – 9 | 10 – 13 | ISO 179/1eA |
| HDT (1.8 MPa) | °C | 245 – 250 | 250 – 255 | ISO 75-2/Af |
| Melting Point (DSC) | °C | 255 – 265 | 255 – 265 | ISO 11357 |
| Mold Shrinkage (Flow) | % | 0.30 – 0.55 | 0.15 – 0.30 | ISO 294-4 |
| Mold Shrinkage (Transverse) | % | 0.60 – 0.90 | 0.35 – 0.55 | ISO 294-4 |
| Resistividad superficial | Ω | 10¹² – 10¹³ | 10¹² – 10¹³ | IEC 60093 |
What Each Property Means in Practice
Tensile Strength and Modulus: The Core Stiffness Numbers
Tensile strength is the maximum stress the material can withstand while being pulled before it breaks. The jump from GF30 (approximately 185 MPa) to GF50 (approximately 230 MPa) represents a roughly 25% increase in ultimate strength. However, the tensile modulus — the material’s resistance to elastic deformation — nearly doubles. GF50 is dramatically stiffer: it stretches less under a given load. This matters for structural brackets, pump housings, and any application where deflection under load is the limiting design criterion rather than ultimate failure.
A practical consequence: if you are replacing die-cast aluminium with PA66, GF50 comes much closer to matching the stiffness of light metals. GF30 often requires ribbing or thicker wall sections to achieve equivalent structural rigidity.
HDT: Heat Deflection Under Load
The HDT at 1.8 MPa (ISO 75-Af) for both GF30 and GF50 sits in the 245–255°C range — close to the crystalline melting point of PA66 itself. The glass fibers create a rigid skeletal network that resists deformation even as the PA66 matrix softens. The 5°C advantage GF50 holds at the upper end is real but small. In practice, both grades are rated for similar continuous-use temperature windows. The HDT value confirms that short-term exposure to 240°C+ is feasible, but above 220°C oxidative degradation of the polyamide matrix accelerates regardless of glass content.
Shrinkage and Warpage: The Hidden Differentiator
This is where the GF30 vs GF50 decision gets interesting. GF30 exhibits mold shrinkage of 0.3–0.55% in the flow direction and 0.6–0.9% transverse — a roughly 2:1 anisotropy ratio. GF50 shrinks less overall (0.15–0.3% flow, 0.35–0.55% transverse), and the anisotropy ratio tightens to approximately 1.7:1.
Lower absolute shrinkage means GF50 molds closer to nominal dimensions. But higher glass content also means higher melt viscosity, which requires higher injection pressures and can increase residual stress if the part has abrupt wall thickness transitions. For large, flat parts, GF50’s lower and more isotropic shrinkage is a genuine advantage. For thin-walled parts with long flow paths, GF30 may fill more easily and warp less in practice despite the higher datasheet shrinkage numbers.
Consideraciones sobre el tratamiento
GF50 demands more from the molding process: higher barrel temperatures (290–310°C recommended vs 280–300°C for GF30), higher injection pressures, and faster screw wear. Standard nitrided screws will wear noticeably faster processing GF50; bimetallic screws and barrels are strongly recommended for sustained production. Gate design matters more with GF50 because the higher viscosity and fiber content increase the risk of jetting and poor knit-line strength.
Conditioned vs Dry: The Moisture Effect
Polyamide 66 absorbs moisture from the environment — typically 1.5–2.5% by weight at equilibrium in 50% RH air. This absorbed water acts as a plasticizer, reducing stiffness and strength but dramatically increasing toughness. The table below shows typical property shifts from dry-as-molded (DAM) to equilibrium at 23°C / 50% RH.
| Propiedad | Unidad | GF30 Dry | GF30 Cond. | GF50 Dry | GF50 Cond. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistencia a la tracción | MPa | 185 | 120 | 230 | 155 |
| Módulo de elasticidad | MPa | 10,000 | 6,800 | 17,000 | 11,500 |
| Charpy Notched (23°C) | kJ/m² | 12 | 18 | 15 | 22 |
| Charpy Notched (−30°C) | kJ/m² | 8 | 7 | 12 | 10 |
| Módulo de flexión | MPa | 9,000 | 5,800 | 15,000 | 10,000 |
Two observations stand out. First, the property loss from moisture absorption is significant for both grades — tensile strength drops roughly 35% and modulus approximately 32% whether you start at GF30 or GF50. Second, and critically, the conditioned GF50 still outperforms dry GF30 in modulus (11,500 vs 10,000 MPa) and tensile strength (155 vs 185 MPa — roughly comparable). This means that in a humid application environment, the practical stiffness advantage of GF50 over GF30 narrows but does not disappear.
Commercial Grades and Equivalents
Most PA66 GF30 and GF50 grades on the market are formulated around a standard set of reference products. If your datasheet lists one of the grades below, the properties in this guide should align closely. For cross-referencing, always verify the specific additive package — heat-stabilized (H), impact-modified, or lubricated variants shift individual values.
| Supplier | PA66 GF30 Grade | PA66 GF50 Grade |
|---|---|---|
| BASF Ultramid | A3EG6 (standard), A3EG7 (35%) | A3EG10 |
| DuPont Zytel | 70G30HSL, 70G30HSLR | 70G50HSLR |
| DSM Akulon | K224-G6, S223-G6 | K224-G10, S223-G10 |
| Radici Radilon | A RV300 | A RV500 |
| Domo Technyl | A 218 V30 | A 218 V50 |
| Ascend Vydyne | R533, R533H | R550 |
BASF’s A3EG6 (GF30) and A3EG10 (GF50) are the most commonly cross-referenced grades worldwide. DuPont’s 70G30HSLR and 70G50HSLR add heat stabilization and lubricant for reduced mold deposit. DSM’s Akulon S223 series targets injection molding with excellent surface finish; the K224 variants are formulated for higher flow. If your application requires UL certification, grades with the “H” suffix from BASF and DuPont carry UL94 HB or V-2 listings by default and V-0 with additional flame-retardant packages.
When to Choose GF50 Over GF30
The decision often comes down to three engineering scenarios where the premium for higher glass loading pays for itself:
Scenario 1: Metal replacement where stiffness is non-negotiable. When your design is drop-in replacing a die-cast aluminum or stamped steel bracket and the existing wall thickness budget is fixed, GF30 may deflect unacceptably. GF50’s modulus of 16,000–17,500 MPa gets you into the stiffness territory of magnesium alloys. The weight savings over metal remain substantial — GF50 is still roughly one-quarter the density of aluminium.
Scenario 2: High-temperature structural load at elevated humidity. Components inside engine bays, turbocharger ducting, or industrial pump housings see both heat and moisture. As shown in the conditioned properties table, GF50 retains approximately 11,500 MPa modulus at equilibrium moisture — still above dry GF30. If your FEA model uses conditioned properties and shows marginal safety factors with GF30, stepping to GF50 is the most direct fix without redesigning geometry.
Scenario 3: Tight dimensional window with low post-mold movement. Parts that must hold precision tolerances across seasonal humidity cycles benefit from GF50’s lower absolute shrinkage and reduced moisture-induced dimensional change. Automotive sensor housings, electronic connector bodies, and precision gear carriers are classic examples.
When to Stay with GF30
GF30 remains the right choice when: your mold already exists and was cut for GF30 shrinkage (retrofitting is expensive); the part has thin walls under 1.5 mm where GF50 might short-shot; you need better surface aesthetics (lower glass content gives smoother as-molded surfaces); or the cost delta matters — GF50 typically commands a 15–25% price premium per kilogram, and molded part weight is also roughly 15% higher due to density.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre el PA66 GF30 y el PA6 GF30?
El PA6 GF30 tiene un punto de fusión más bajo (aproximadamente 220 °C frente a los 260 °C del PA66) y una temperatura de deformación térmica (HDT) más baja (normalmente entre 200 y 210 °C a 1,8 MPa frente a los 245–250 °C). La resistencia a la tracción también es menor: el PA6 GF30 suele alcanzar entre 160 y 180 MPa, frente a los 180–195 MPa del PA66 GF30. Sin embargo, el PA6 GF30 es más fácil de procesar, fluye mejor en paredes delgadas y presenta un mejor aspecto superficial. El PA6 también absorbe la humedad ligeramente más rápido. Elija el PA66 GF30 cuando la resistencia al calor bajo carga estructural sea la prioridad; elija el PA6 GF30 para piezas estéticas de gran tamaño o cuando el margen de procesamiento sea ajustado.
¿Qué acero para moldes se necesita para la producción de PA66 GF50?
PA66 GF50 is abrasive due to the high glass fiber content. For prototype or low-volume tools (under 50,000 shots), hardened P20 or 718 steel with nitriding is acceptable. For production volumes above 50,000 cycles, H13 or 1.2344 tool steel hardened to 48–52 HRC is recommended. Gate inserts and runner systems wear fastest; using replaceable inserts with D2 or M2 tool steel at high-wear points extends tool life. Venting depth should be limited to 0.01–0.02 mm to prevent flash with GF50’s low melt viscosity at processing temperatures.
¿Se pueden marcar con láser el PA66 GF30 y el GF50?
Sí, pero los resultados varían considerablemente. Los grados de PA66 GF naturales (sin color) pueden marcarse con láser Nd:YAG o de fibra para producir una marca oscura sobre un fondo claro: el láser carboniza la superficie de la poliamida. Sin embargo, las fibras de vidrio de la superficie dispersan el haz y reducen el contraste. El GF30 ofrece un mejor contraste de marcado láser que el GF50, ya que el mayor contenido de resina en la superficie proporciona más material orgánico para la carbonización. En el caso del GF50, se recomienda utilizar aditivos sensibles al láser o un grado precompuesto apto para el marcado láser (disponible bajo pedido en la mayoría de los principales proveedores) para obtener un marcado fiable y de alto contraste.
¿Cuál es la temperatura máxima de uso continuo del PA66 GF30 y GF50?
There is no single number — it depends on the specific failure criterion. For mechanical load-bearing applications: approximately 120–140°C for GF30 and 130–150°C for GF50 when the load is moderate (under 30% of ultimate tensile strength). For purely thermal exposure without mechanical load: UL Relative Thermal Index (RTI) ratings are typically 130–140°C for both grades when heat-stabilized. Short-term excursions to 180–200°C are acceptable for minutes rather than hours. Above 220°C, oxidative degradation accelerates sharply and service life is measured in hours regardless of glass content. Heat-stabilized variants (suffix “H” or “HS”) extend the thermal aging resistance by 15–25°C over standard grades.
