PA66-LCF20: High-Strength Long Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyamide 66 for Structural Durability and Thermal Endurance

PA66-LCF20 is a high performance engineering thermoplastic based on polyamide 66 (PA66), reinforced with 20% long carbon fiber (LCF). Designed for advanced structural applications, it offers a remarkable combination of strength, stiffness, and thermal resistance—making it ideal for lightweight, high-load components that require long term mechanical integrity and dimensional stability.

The use of long carbon fiber—as opposed to short or chopped fibers—enhances internal load distribution, increases fatigue resistance, and significantly reduces creep and warpage. This makes PA66-LCF20 a superior material for challenging environments in automotive, industrial, electronic, and consumer applications.

Key Mechanical Properties

Tensile Strength: ≥ 125 MPa

Flexural Strength: ≥ 165 MPa

Notched Impact Strength: ≥ 11 kJ/m²

The 20% long carbon fiber reinforcement provides a well balanced improvement in strength and toughness over unfilled and short fiber filled PA66, without compromising impact performance. It supports parts exposed to vibration, bending, or mechanical shocks—ensuring durability under dynamic or long term loading.

Thermal and Chemical Resistance

Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT): Approx. 135°C

Long Term Service Temperature: Up to 125°C

Chemical Resistance: Excellent resistance to automotive fluids such as oils, greases, and fuels; good resistance to weak acids and alkalis; not suitable for concentrated oxidizers or strong mineral acids

PA66-LCF20 maintains its mechanical performance under elevated thermal stress, making it particularly suited for under the hood automotive parts, industrial enclosures, and machine components operating near heat sources or in thermally challenging conditions.

Wear Resistance and Processability

Wear Resistance: Significantly improved—well suited for sliding, load carrying, or friction based components

Processing Methods: Injection molding (with long fiber compatible feeders), compression molding

Processing Notes: Use of low shear settings is essential to preserve fiber length. Hardened steel tooling is recommended due to abrasive filler content. Even dispersion is critical for consistent mechanical performance.

The long fiber reinforcement not only strengthens the polymer matrix but also significantly improves wear life and dimensional retention under mechanical cycling or repeated movement. This makes PA66-LCF20 suitable for sliding guides, pivoting joints, and mechanical linkages.

Environmental Stability

Water Absorption: Reduced compared to unfilled or short fiber PA66

Dimensional Stability: Excellent—resists deformation under humidity and temperature fluctuations

Long carbon fibers help inhibit moisture ingress, allowing PA66-LCF20 to outperform traditional PA66 in environments with variable humidity or intermittent exposure to water. Its dimensional consistency is critical in precision fit assemblies, especially in applications requiring tight tolerances.

Typical Applications

PA66-LCF20 is ideal for semi structural to structural components where weight, strength, and dimensional consistency matter. It meets the performance requirements of industries such as:

Automotive:

Structural brackets, mounts, and underbody components

Engine bay supports and clips

Lightweight reinforcements replacing metal parts

Industrial:

Robotic arms, pivot joints, and machine levers

Wear resistant sliding components and housings

Mechanical structures exposed to fatigue or repeated stress

Electronics & Consumer:

Rigid support frames in devices

Load bearing casings and mechanical fixtures

Functional housings in high vibration environments

PA66-LCF20 Performance Summary