G10 Fr-4 Glass Epoxy Composite Laminate Material
What Is G10 Material
G-10 FR-4 is a thermosetting industrial fibre glass composite laminate consisting of a continuous filament glass cloth material with an epoxy resin binder. This product, first introduced in the 1950’s, has characteristics of high strength, low moisture absorption, excellent electrical properties and chemical resistance. These properties are maintained not only at room temperature but also under humid or moist conditions. NEMA G10 was the designation given to Glass Epoxy sheet composite by the National Electrical Manufacture Association (NEMA) to specify a consistent product between manufactures.
Micarta was the Westinghouse trade name for their Micarta Sheet materials. Micarta materials alone can be any of the several NEMA Industrial laminate grades unless it is specified Micarta G10.
In today’s G10 laminate sheet is made up with difunctional or trifunctional epoxy making up the bulk of heavy sheet and then using finer glass cloth with high temperature resistant tetra-functional epoxy giving a high performance outer finish.
Today what is called G10 composite is actually FR4, the Brominated flame retardant version of G 10. The FR 4 material can usually be used where G10 material is specified, however G10 Laminate should not be used where FR-4 is specified.
Another variation of G10 fiberglass sheet is G10 CR laminate used in cryogenic applications.
Both G-10 and FR-4 are rated at 285 degree F continuous operating temperature. Because they are thermosets, no melting will occur with these grades, however charring will be observed after extended periods above this temperature rating. FR-4 has a UL flammability rating of 94 V-0.
G-10 Tube is stocked at Polymer Plastics in limited quantities, but is usually made to order. This process is made using the same epoxy saturated glass cloth as the sheet is made, but wound over mandrels and cured and the OD ground to size.
G-10 FR-4 Rod is commonly turned, and ground from sheet stock. You can special order Mil Spec grade rolled and molded rod on a custom order basis.
With these outstanding characteristics, it is easy to understand why G-10 FR-4 is such a versatile material and is used in a wide variety of applications.
G10 Material Properties, Applications and Availabilities for the G10 FR4 Sheet, Rod, & Tube
G-10/FR-4 Meets MIL-P-18177C TYPE GEE, MIL-I-24768/27 TYPE GEE-F, LP-509, UL 94V-0, IEC60893-3-2-EP GC 202 G-10 & G10-CR Meets MIL-I-24768/2 TYPE GEE, UL 94-HB
| Properties | Applications | Availabilities |
|---|---|---|
| High dielectric strength | Electrical equipment | Rod: .062″ to 4.500″ |
| Radiation resistant | Aerospace conditions | Sheet: .005″ to 3.000″ |
| High tensile strength | Rocket cases | Tubing: .187″ I.D. to 6.00″ I.D., wall thickness, 0.62″ to 1.50″ |
| Low cold flow or creep | Antenna insulators | Standard Color: Green. Special order, black, red, blue, yellow, with minimum ordering quantities. |
| Chemically resistant | Test boards | |
| High flexural strength | End plates | |
| Dimensional stability | Cryogenic insulation | |
| Low moisture absorption | Solder Frames | |
| Low dissipation factor | Test fixtures | |
| High impact strength | Medical diagnostic | |
| Cryogenic serviceability | Circuit board holders | |
| Terminal boards | ||
| Underwater conditions |
Specifications
| NEMA GRADE | FED. SPEC. L-L-31 | MIL | MIL SPEC TYPE | JAN-P-13 TYPE LTS | ARMY SPEC. | ASTM D-709 TYPE | NAVY SPEC. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-10 | GRADE: N/A | MIL-I-24768/2 | GEE | N/A | N/A | IV | GEE |
| TYPE IV | MIL-P-18177 | ||||||
| FR-4 | GRADE: N/A | MIL-I-24768/27 | GEE-F | N/A | N/A | IV | GEE-F |
| TYPE IV | |||||||
| FR-4 | GRADE: N/A | MIL-I-24768/28 | GEB-F | N/A | N/A | IV | GEB-F |
| TYPE IV |