NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet
NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet is a woven glass fabric composite combined with a melamine resin system, complying with ANSI/NEMA IM 60000-2021 Grade G-5/G-9, ASTM D709 Type IV Grade G-5, MIL-I-24768/1 Type GME, MIL-I-24768/8 Type GMG, and IEC 60893-3-3-MF GC 201. The material is very hard, flame resistant, and a machining grade with excellent electrical properties in high humidity conditions, high physical strength, and excellent arc resistance. NP509 delivers a compressive strength of 85,000 psi flatwise, a comparative tracking index of 600 V, an arc resistance of 185 seconds, and a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating. UL Listed for thicknesses greater than 0.024″.
Key Properties
- Flexural Strength, Condition A LW / CW: 70,500 / 63,200 psi (486.1) / (435.7) MPa (ASTM D790)
- Compressive Strength, Condition A Flatwise: 85,000 psi (586.1) MPa (ASTM D695)
- Tensile Strength, Condition A LW / CW: 50,000 / 35,000 psi (344.7) / (241.3) MPa (ASTM D638)
- Izod Impact Strength, Condition E-48/50 LW / CW: 16.50 / 12.50 ft-lb/in (8.81) / (6.67) J/cm (ASTM D256)
- Arc Resistance, Condition A: 185 sec (ASTM D495)
- Flammability Vertical, Condition A: V-0 (UL Bulletin 94)
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- Specifications
- Applications
- General Info
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Physical Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Specific Gravity | 1.90 | ASTM D792 |
| Rockwell Hardness (0.250″ Build-up) | 115 M Scale | ASTM D785 |
| Moisture Absorption, Condition D₁-24/23 | 0.50% | ASTM D570 |
| Flexural Strength, Condition A LW / CW | 70,500 / 63,200 psi (486.1) / (435.7) MPa | ASTM D790 |
| Flexural Modulus, Condition A LW / CW | 2,000 / 1,700 kpsi (13.8) / (11.7) GPa | ASTM D790 |
| Tensile Strength, Condition A LW / CW | 50,000 / 35,000 psi (344.7) / (241.3) MPa | ASTM D638 |
| Izod Impact Strength, Condition E-48/50 LW / CW | 16.50 / 12.50 ft-lb/in (8.81) / (6.67) J/cm | ASTM D256 |
| Compressive Strength, Condition A Flatwise | 85,000 psi (586.1) MPa | ASTM D695 |
| Bonding Strength, Condition A | 1,900 lb (861.8) kg | ASTM D229 |
| Shear Strength, Condition A Perpendicular | 18,000 psi (124.1) MPa | ASTM D732 |
Thermal Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Temperature Index — Mechanical | 140°C | UL Bulletin 746b |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, X-axis / Y-axis | 15.0 / 18.0 (“/”/°C × 10⁻⁶) | IPC-TM 650-2.4.24 |
| Flammability Vertical, Condition A | V-0 | UL Bulletin 94 |
Electrical Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Dissipation Factor @ 1 MHz, Condition D-24/23 | 0.015 | ASTM D150 |
| Relative Permittivity @ 1 MHz, Condition D-24/23 | 7.03 | ASTM D150 |
| Breakdown Voltage, Condition A | 70 kVolts | ASTM D149 |
| Breakdown Voltage, Condition D-48/50 | 65 kVolts | ASTM D149 |
| Electric Strength, Condition A | 540 Volts/mil (212.6) kV/cm | ASTM D149 |
| Electric Strength, Condition D-48/50 | 550 Volts/mil (216.5) kV/cm | ASTM D149 |
| Arc Resistance, Condition A | 185 sec | ASTM D495 |
| Comparative Tracking Index | 600 V | ASTM D3638 |
Compliance
- ANSI/NEMA IM 60000-2021 Grade G-5 / G-9 — Compliant
- ASTM D709 Type IV Grade G-5 — Compliant
- MIL-I-24768/1 Type GME — Compliant
- MIL-I-24768/8 Type GMG — Compliant
- IEC 60893-3-3-MF GC 201 — Compliant
- UL Listed (thicknesses greater than 0.024″)
- High-humidity electrical insulation requiring maximum arc and tracking resistance
- Very hard, high-strength precision-machined insulating components
- Switchgear and electrical equipment requiring V-0 flame rating and G-5/G-9 specification compliance
- Military electrical insulation requiring MIL-I-24768/1 GME or MIL-I-24768/8 GMG compliance
- High-voltage insulation applications requiring the highest CTI in the thermoset composite laminate family
Common industries: Electrical Equipment Manufacturing, Defense, Power Distribution, Switchgear Manufacturing, Industrial Manufacturing.
NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet is the premium electrical performance grade in the Norplex-Micarta laminate line — a woven glass fabric composite impregnated with a melamine resin system engineered specifically for applications requiring outstanding arc resistance, tracking resistance, and electrical properties under high humidity conditions.
With a comparative tracking index of 600 V, an arc resistance of 185 seconds, and a dissipation factor of 0.015 at 1 MHz, NP509 represents the highest arc/tracking performance and lowest dielectric loss of any laminate in the Norplex-Micarta family covered in this library. The very hard construction (Rockwell 115 M Scale) and a compressive strength of 85,000 psi flatwise also make this the highest compressive strength laminate in the entire product line.
UL 94 V-0 flammability is confirmed at the tested thickness, and the material is UL Listed for thicknesses greater than 0.024″. Flexural strength reaches 70,500 / 63,200 psi (LW/CW) and Izod impact strength is 16.50 / 12.50 ft-lb/in (LW/CW) — both outstanding for a thermoset composite laminate. Breakdown voltage is 70 kV (Condition A) and 65 kV (Condition D-48/50), with electric strength of 540 / 550 Volts/mil (Condition A / D-48/50).
Moisture absorption is 0.50% — the lowest in the glass fabric laminate family shown here. The mechanical temperature index is 140°C; the electrical temperature index value is not listed on the manufacturer’s TDS.
Compliant with ANSI/NEMA IM 60000-2021 Grade G-5/G-9, ASTM D709 Type IV Grade G-5, MIL-I-24768/1 Type GME, MIL-I-24768/8 Type GMG, and IEC 60893-3-3-MF GC 201. UL Listed (thicknesses greater than 0.024″).
What differentiates NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet from glass fabric epoxy laminates such as NP510A (FR-4) and NP511 (G-11)?
NP509 uses a melamine resin system rather than epoxy, which delivers dramatically superior arc resistance (185 sec vs. 130 sec for NP510A), comparative tracking index (600 V vs. 150 V for NP510A), and dissipation factor (0.015 vs. 0.032 for NP510A) — making it the material of choice when arc and tracking performance in high humidity are the primary requirements. The compressive strength (85,000 psi) exceeds all glass epoxy grades. NP510A and NP511 are preferred where UL 94 V-0 is required with IPC 4101/21 or higher Tg, or where cost is a primary factor; NP509 is the selection when maximum electrical performance in arc-prone or humid environments is the governing criterion.
Why does comparative tracking index matter for electrical insulation in high humidity conditions?
The comparative tracking index (CTI) measures the highest voltage at which a material surface resists forming a conductive tracking path when exposed to a contaminated electrolyte — conditions that closely simulate the real-world combination of humidity, surface contamination, and electrical stress present in operating electrical equipment. A higher CTI means the material resists surface carbonization and conductive path formation under more severe contamination and voltage conditions. NP509's CTI of 600 V — the highest in the Norplex-Micarta laminate library — means it maintains its insulating properties under contamination and humidity conditions that would cause lower-CTI materials to track and fail.
What is the mechanical temperature index for NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet?
The mechanical temperature index is 140°C, as listed on the Technical Datasheet. The electrical temperature index value is not listed on the manufacturer's TDS.
Is NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet suitable for military, regulated, and UL-Listed applications?
Yes. NP509 complies with ANSI/NEMA IM 60000-2021 Grade G-5/G-9, ASTM D709 Type IV Grade G-5, MIL-I-24768/1 Type GME, MIL-I-24768/8 Type GMG, and IEC 60893-3-3-MF GC 201, and is UL Listed for thicknesses greater than 0.024". The flammability rating is UL 94 V-0.
How should NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet be specified?
Specify grade (NP509 Glass Fabric Melamine Laminate Sheet), thickness, compliance requirements (NEMA Grade G-5, NEMA Grade G-9, MIL-I-24768/1, MIL-I-24768/8, or IEC 60893-3-3-MF GC 201 as applicable), dimensional tolerances, and finished format.
