G10 (material)

G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate, a kind of composite material.[1] It is created by stacking multiple layers of glass cloth, soaking in epoxy resin, and compressing the resulting material under heat until the epoxy cures.[2][3] It is manufactured in flat sheets, most often a few millimeters thick.

G10 is very similar to Micarta and carbon fiber laminates, because they are all resin-based laminates, except that the base material used is glass cloth. G10 is the toughest of the glass fiber resin laminates and therefore the most commonly used.

Properties

G10 is favoured for its high strength, low moisture absorption, excellent electrical insulating properties and chemical resistance. These properties are maintained not only at room temperature but also under humid or moist conditions. It was first used as a substrate for printed circuit boards, and its designation, G10, comes from a National Electrical Manufacturers Association standard for this purpose.

Decorative variations of G10 are produced in many colors and patterns and are especially used to make handles for knives, grips for firearms and other tools. These can be textured (for grip), bead blasted, sanded or polished. Its strength and low density make it useful for other kinds of handcrafting as well.

Hazards

G10 is generally safe to use, however when cutting or grinding the material, proper respirators have to be worn to avoid breathing in the glass and epoxy dust, known for contributing to respiratory disorders and increasing the risk of developing lung cancer. Appropriate ventilation in the work area should also be ensured.

FR-4 has replaced G10 in most consumer electronics. It uses a flame-retardant brominated epoxy.

G3 is a material made of glass fiber and phenolic resin. Unlike G10, it is not often used for knifemaking.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What is G-10 Handle Material? Knife Handles, Grips, Scales & More". KnifeArt. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  2. ↑ Blain, William Robert; Wilde, Willy Patrick (1996-01-01). Computer aided design in composite material technology V. Computational Mechanics Publications. ISBN 9781853124013.
  3. ↑ Lemansites.ch. "MB Fins material G10". www.mb-fins.com. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
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