Exablend® PBT GF30-W3201 — glass-filled self-extinguishing PBT V-0

Description

Exablend® PBT GF30-W3201 — 30 % glass-filled self-extinguishing polybutylene terephthalate rated UL 94 V-0 from Material Wizard. An injection-molding electrical grade of PBT with a halogenated flame-retardant package (Br + Sb₂O₃ synergist) or a halogen-free intumescent package on request. Guarantees UL 94 V-0 at ≥3 mm thickness and V-2 at 1.5 mm. Optimized for precision electrical components with requirements for flame retardancy, dimensional stability and electrical insulation.

Exablend® PBT series — positioning

• Exablend® PBT-B3104 — base unfilled grade, hydrolysis-/UV-stabilized, for automotive exteriors
• Exablend® PBT GF30-W3201 — V-0 GF30 for electrical engineering (this page)
• On request: V-0 at 0.8 mm (high-spec), halogen-free intumescent FR package, GF15/GF25/GF45

What V-0 + GF30 in one compound delivers

• UL 94 V-0 at 3 mm: suitable for electrical enclosures in cabinets containing flammable materials (unlike V-2: no flaming drips)
• GF30 reinforcement: modulus ~9500 MPa, thermal expansion CTE ~30×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ — close to metals, important for hybrid metal-polymer assemblies
• HDT/A (1.8 MPa) ~205 °C — stability under load during reflow soldering (lead-free up to 240 °C) and steam sterilization
• Low moisture absorption (0.15 % in 24 h): stable electrical properties in any climatic conditions
• CTI 175–225 V (Comparative Tracking Index) — acceptable for most enclosures up to 250 V AC

Advantages

• Guaranteed UL 94 V-0 at ≥3 mm, with a Yellow Card available on request
• High stiffness (modulus ~9500 MPa) and dimensional stability under thermal cycling
• Excellent electrical insulation and low dielectric losses
• Good chemical resistance to oils, glycols, dilute acids and alkalis
• Compatible with standard hot-runner injection tooling
• Low thermal expansion for hybrid metal-PBT assemblies
• Stable through repeated reprocessing of production offcuts (up to 15 % regrind)
• RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU + 2015/863) and REACH SVHC compliant

Limitations — honestly

• V-0 only at ≥3 mm; thin-walled parts (<1.5 mm) require specialised grades with an enhanced FR package (on request)
• The base FR package is halogenated (Br + Sb₂O₃); halogen-free requires separate grades (intumescent, phosphorus-based)
• Notched impact strength ~7-10 kJ/m² — the typical brittleness of GF-reinforced PBT, not for impact loads
• Shrinkage anisotropy along fiber flow lines — a carefully engineered gate is critical for precision parts
• Visible fiber surface (white streaks) on thin-walled parts — cosmetic applications require texturing or painting
• Mandatory drying before processing: 120 °C, 4-5 h to <0.02 % moisture
• The FR package increases sensitivity to stress cracking in contact with solvents (aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones)

Target applications

Power electrical engineering: housings for 0.4–10 kV switchgear, medium-voltage contactor insulators, circuit breaker housings, insulating parts for transformers.

Household and industrial electrical equipment: housings for industrial-grade sockets and switches (IP54+), mounting chassis for DIN-rail equipment, relay module housings.

Industrial electronics: connector housings for SMT assemblies with lead-free reflow, power module insulators, housings for inverters and frequency converters.

EV / e-mobility: connector housings for high-voltage power circuits of charging stations, BMS electrical infrastructure elements, insulating components of battery packs (with verification of full-depth V-0).

Lighting: housings for high-power LED luminaires (where FR is required), mounting bases for solar modules and inverters, public-space lighting components.

Global equivalents

Parametrically comparable PBT GF30 V-0 grades: Covestro Pocan® B 3225 / B 3235, Lanxess Pocan® B 3235 HR, BASF Ultradur® B 4406 G6, DuPont Crastin® SK 645 FR / SK 605 FR, SABIC Valox® 420 SE0, Toray Toraycon® 1101G-30. Exablend® PBT GF30-W3201 is offered as a localized alternative with flexibility in FR package type (halogenated vs halogen-free), batch size (from 25 kg), color and MFR.

The stated values are measured by in-house methods close to the corresponding ISO and GOST standards. This information is for reference only and does not constitute an official batch data sheet. Please request the TDS, MSDS and UL Yellow Card for a specific batch before industrial use.