The choice of materials for connectors varies significantly across different application scenarios. As the main component of a connector, the housing largely determines its size and dimensions. Below, Shenzhen Cablein Tech Co., Ltd. introduces five common plastic materials used in connectors. These materials involve critical technical knowledge that buyers, engineers, and businesses must understand.

Typically, plastic materials for connectors include LCP, Nylon, PPS, PBT, and PET.

LCP is a material with excellent electrical insulation properties. It can maintain its electrical performance unaffected at temperatures ranging from 200°C to 300°C, and can even withstand intermittent use at temperatures up to 316°C.

Additionally, LCP exhibits strong corrosion resistance, remaining unaffected in environments with 90% acidity or 50% alkalinity. It also offers outstanding thermal stability, heat resistance, and chemical resistance.

Nylon is known for its good toughness, self-lubrication, chemical resistance, and wear resistance.

• PA6T offers better toughness compared to PA9T, with a heat deformation temperature of 290°C, making it highly suitable for SMT connectors.

• PA46 products are characterized by high strength and toughness, making them less prone to cracking.

Advantages: High rigidity, low water absorption, excellent dimensional stability, a heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 260°C, and strong flame retardancy.

Disadvantages: Slow crystallization speed, which can easily cause burrs, and relatively poor toughness.

PBT is a crystalline engineering plastic with a distinct melting point (215–235°C). In its molten state, it features low viscosity and good fluidity, along with low hygroscopicity. It maintains stable electrical performance even under humid and high-temperature conditions.

Disadvantages: High post-molding shrinkage. Due to insufficient heat resistance, it is not suitable for SMT applications and is typically used for DIP connectors (e.g., D-SUB25P, DR-9P, etc.).

PET is an engineering plastic with a melting point of 245–260°C. It offers good mechanical properties, electrical performance, and solvent resistance.

Disadvantages: Anisotropic properties, high shrinkage, slow crystallization speed, and relatively stringent drying requirements.

These are the five common plastic materials used in connectors. Based on a comprehensive analysis, the principles for selecting the appropriate material can be summarized as follows:

1. Good fluidity (e.g., LCP and Nylon, which are suitable for thin-walled products).

2. High strength and impact resistance.

3. High-temperature resistance (especially for SMT applications).

4. Excellent electrical performance (high resistance, low dielectric loss).

5. Short molding cycle (improves production efficiency and reduces costs).

6. Cost-effectiveness while meeting performance requirements.

By understanding these materials and their properties, industry professionals can make informed decisions to optimize connector performance and reliability.

Authored by: Bruce
From: Shenzhen Cablein Tech Co., Ltd.