‌Garolite G10 FR4 Introduction and Performance Comparison

‌Garolite G-10  FR4: Product Introduction, Performance Comparison, and Applications‌ ‌1. Product  Introduction‌ ‌Ga...

‌Garolite G-10  FR4: Product Introduction, Performance Comparison, and Applications‌

‌1. Product  Introduction‌

‌Garolite G-10‌
G-10 epoxy sheet  is a composite material laminated under high temperature and pressure using glass fiber cloth impregnated with epoxy resin. It belongs to the ‌G-series under the NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) standard‌ and contains ‌no flame-retardant additives‌, relying instead on the inherent properties of epoxy resin.

‌Base Material‌: Glass fiber cloth + halogen-free epoxy resin.

‌Color‌: Typically natural beige or customizable.

‌Key Advantages‌: High mechanical strength, excellent insulation, chemical resistance, and thermal stability.

‌FR4 Materail

FR4 is a general term for glass-reinforced epoxy laminates, classified under the ‌NEMA flame-retardant grade‌ and compliant with the ‌UL94 V-0 standard‌ (self-extinguishing).

‌Base Material‌: Glass fiber cloth + flame-retardant epoxy resin (containing bromine or other additives).

‌Color‌: Commonly green (for PCBs) or industrial colors.

‌Key Advantages‌: Superior flame resistance, strong electrical properties, and widespread use in electronics.

‌2. Performance Comparison‌

‌Property‌	‌Garolite G-10‌	‌FR4‌
‌Flame Resistance‌	Non-flame-retardant (UL94 HB)	UL94 V-0 (self-extinguishing)
‌Mechanical Strength‌	Higher (flexural: 500-600 MPa)	Moderate (flexural: 400-500 MPa)
‌Thermal Resistance‌	Continuous use ≤130°C	Continuous use ≤120-130°C
‌Dielectric Constant (1MHz)‌	~4.5-5.0	~4.3-4.9
‌Water Absorption‌	≤0.10%	≤0.15%
‌Chemical Resistance‌	Excellent (acid/alkali/solvent)	Good (reduced by flame retardants)
‌Eco-Friendliness‌	Halogen-free (RoHS-compliant)	Contains bromine (RoHS-restricted variants exist)
‌Typical Thickness‌	0.1mm – 50mm	0.2mm – 3.2mm (PCB standard)

‌3. Application Fields‌

‌Garolite G-10‌

‌Mechanical‌: Insulating spacers, bearings, gear bushings (high-load, wear-resistant).

‌Electrical‌: Transformer insulation, high-voltage switch components (arc resistance >150 sec).

‌Harsh Environments‌: Chemical equipment linings, vacuum systems (low outgassing).

Aerospace‌: Satellite components, radiation-resistant parts.

‌FR4 sheet‌

Electronics‌: PCB substrates (90% of global PCBs use FR4).

‌Flame-Retardant Devices‌: Power supply housings, motor insulation (UL-certified).

‌Consumer Electronics‌: Smartphone/computer motherboards, LED panels.

Automotive‌: ECU modules, sensor substrates.

‌4. Selection Guidelines‌

‌Choose G-10 ‌:

High mechanical strength or chemical resistance is critical (e.g., chemical processing).

Flame retardancy is unnecessary, but RoHS compliance is required.

Operating in high-temperature environments (e.g., motor insulation).

‌Choose FR4 ‌:

Flame resistance is mandatory (e.g., consumer electronics, public infrastructure).

High-frequency circuit design is needed (low-loss variants available).

Cost efficiency and mass production are priorities (mature PCB supply chain).

‌5. Additional Notes‌

‌Eco-Friendly Trends‌: Some FR4 now uses halogen-free flame retardants (e.g., phosphorus-based) for RoHS 2.0 compliance.

‌Processing Differences‌: G-10 generates glass fiber dust during drilling (requires PPE), while FR4 cutting may release brominated compounds.

Advanced Alternatives‌: For extreme conditions, consider G-11 (180°C thermal resistance) or high-frequency FR4 variants (e.g., Rogers 4350B).

By comparing these materials, users can select the optimal choice based on specific requirements (flame retardancy, strength, environmental resistance).