Exablend® PBT-B3104 — unfilled hydrolysis-resistant and UV-stabilized polybutylene terephthalate

Description

Exablend® PBT-B3104 — unfilled hydrolysis-resistant and UV-stabilized polybutylene terephthalate from Material Wizard. An injection-molding PBT grade with hydrolytic stabilization for prolonged contact with hot water and humid environments, plus a UV/light stabilizer package for outdoor applications. Supplied in black with deep, uniform coloration and a high-gloss surface.

Exablend® PBT series — how to choose a grade

• Exablend® PBT-B3104 — base unfilled, hydrolysis-/UV-stabilized, black (this card)
• Exablend® PBT GF30-W3201 — 30 % glass-filled, self-extinguishing UL 94 V-0 (for electrical engineering)
• Made to order: grades with GF15/GF25/GF45, FR segment V-0 at <1.5 mm, grades for laser welding and metallization

What hydrolytic and UV stabilization provide

• Hydrolytic stability — extends part service life in hot water and steam-saturated environments to 5+ years (standard unstabilized PBT degrades within 6–12 months).
• UV stability — retention of color and mechanical properties after 1000+ h of QUV exposure (ASTM G154); suitable for exterior parts under direct sunlight.
• Deep black color — with a UV-resistant carbon black pigment guaranteeing color stability without “graying” after 2-3 years outdoors.

Advantages

• Low water absorption (0.3–0.4 %) and high dimensional stability in humid environments
• Good stiffness and strength for a base unreinforced PBT grade
• Excellent surface gloss of the finished part without post-processing
• Excellent chemical resistance to oils, gasoline, dilute acids and alkalis, glycols
• Low thermal expansion (CTE ~80×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹) — dimensional stability over a wide temperature range of -40 … +120 °C
• Good electrical insulation and low dielectric losses
• Property stability after repeated reprocessing of production offcuts (up to 25 % regrind)
• Compliance with RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU + 2015/863), REACH SVHC compliant

Limitations — honestly

• Not for V-0 / V-2 applications. The base grade is rated UL 94 HB — for the FR segment use Exablend® PBT GF30-W3201 or special FR grades (made to order).
• Brittleness at low temperatures (-40 °C and below) — impact-modified PBT or a PBT/PET blend is recommended for cold climate zones.
• Low impact strength without a modifier (~3-5 kJ/m² Charpy notched) — not for parts under impact loads.
• Requires drying before processing: 120 °C, 3-4 h to <0.02 % — otherwise visible surface defects and molecular weight loss in the melt (acetaldehyde-related).
• Color — black only in the base formulation (other colors require separate grades with verification of the pigment’s UV stability).
• HDT/A (1.8 MPa) ~55-60 °C — performs under load only at moderate temperatures; designs for hot liquids must account for creep.

Target applications

Automotive (exterior parts): exterior sensor housings, decorative trim components, rear-view mirror holders, headlamp washer housings, exterior fasteners.

Electrical engineering (without FR requirements): connector housings, mounting brackets, relay box components, low-power transformer housings.

Plumbing and fittings: mixer tap bodies (without contact with the water flow), decorative plumbing trims, shower system components (where EU 10/2011 is not required).

Household appliances: exterior vacuum cleaner parts, garden equipment components (trimmers, lawn mowers), brackets for air conditioners and heat pumps.

Outdoor lighting: outdoor luminaire housings, street lighting mounting components, mounting bases for solar modules.

Global equivalents

Parametrically comparable unfilled PBT grades with hydrolytic and UV stabilization: Covestro Pocan® B 1300 / B 1305 (basic black PBT), Lanxess Pocan® B 1305 HR (hydrolysis-resistant), BASF Ultradur® B 4500 NAT, DuPont Crastin® S 600, SABIC Valox® 357. Exablend® PBT-B3104 is offered as a localized alternative with flexibility in batch size (from 25 kg), MFR, stabilizer package and color adaptation.

The stated values are measured by in-house methods close to the corresponding ISO and GOST standards. The information is for reference only and is not an official batch technical data sheet. Before industrial use, please request the TDS and MSDS for the specific batch.