Nylon, also known as polyamide(PA), is a group of thermoplastic polymers or plastics commonly used in 3D printing. Nylon is particularly appreciated for its ability to withstand strong mechanical stress, its resistance to heat, tearing and abrasion. This material is therefore often used in the manufacture of wear-resistant parts, such as in the automotive and aerospace industries, but it is also used in the medical field. There are several types of nylon used in 3D printing, with different names depending on the number of carbon atoms they contain. PA6 is most commonly used for FDM printing, while PA11 and PA12 are used for powder processes. Although the application areas of PA11 and PA12 overlap, there are some differences between the two plastics. We therefore recommend that you compare these two materials and check their respective properties, their origin, their printing requirements and finally their application and price categories.
Origin and mechanical properties
Polyamides are distinguished by their nomenclature, commonThe number following the PA code depends on the number of carbon atoms. Therefore, PA11 and PA12 seem very close. However, these two types of nylon differ in many ways, starting with their origin and manufacturing. PA12 is a semi-crystalline linear thermoplastic obtained from natural gas or petroleum. A chemical process produces laurolactam, the starting molecule to make PA12. In 1963, Chemische Werke Hüls AG and Emser Werke launched the PA12 for the first time in Dormat. Since then, homopolymers composed of a single monomer component have been established in many applications. However, PA12 is increasingly the subject of debate due to its origins and impact on the environment.
PA11 is extracted from castor oil and is therefore considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to PA12. (Photo credit: Jellypipe)
Looking for greater sustainability andFor “greener” production, companies are turning to alternative materials with similar properties. This contributed to the rise of PA11, because this polyamide has biological origins. PA11 is made from renewable raw materials obtained from plant derivatives. Most often, castor oil is used, itself obtained by pressing the seeds of the African miracle tree “Castor”. Castor oil is then converted to the amino acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, through monomer synthesis. The monomers then polymerize to form PA11. Its origins are therefore very similar to those of PA6 and very far from its neighboring code PA12. Although PA11 is considered a more sustainable alternative due to its biological origin, it is not biodegradable. Like other polyamides, it must be sorted in specialized collection channels before it can be recycled.
althoughPA11 and PA12 have very different origins, but their mechanical properties are similar, which is why they are often used in industry for similar purposes. PA11 and PA12 are therefore considered extremely strong, robust and durable, with their convincing slip and wear behavior as well as chemical resistance. PA12 is considered the lightest of all polyamide plastics and is characterized by its low concentration of amide groups. Additionally, PA12 is superior to other polyamides in terms of low water absorption and density. Although PA11 also absorbs relatively less water from polyamide, it cannot compete with PA12 in this regard. Its advantage is that its mechanical properties exceed those of PA12. PA11 has high ductility and excellent impact resistance. It has high wear and fatigue resistance, and PA11 parts are more isotropic. It can withstand temperatures up to 190°C, but has a permanent temperature range of -40°C to 125°C. The finished PA11 part is strong yet flexible, durable and features an opaque colored matte finish. The latter is also found in parts PA12. In both cases, the pieces can be colored.
PA 12 (white) is the lightest type of nylon, while PA 11 (gray) has better mechanical properties. (Photo credit: Jellypipe)
In terms of operating temperature,PA12 is not as good as PA11 because although it can withstand the extreme range of -50°C to 150°C, its continuous use temperature is not limited to 50-80°C. Like PA11, it is also very resistant to wear and has high fatigue resistance. It resists greases, oils, solvents, alkalis and salt solutions, making PA12 parts very wear-resistant and easy to weld and bond. PA12 is not only the lightest PA, but also the most resistant to stress cracking. Although the impact performance of the PA12 is very good, it is still not quite comparable to that of the PA11. Compared directly to PA11, PA12 falls short in terms of strength and hardness. This is why PA12 is often reinforced with additives such as fiberglass or carbon fiber to compensate for this deficiency.
Both materials are generally compatible with fabrics and parts made from them are suitable for contact with human skin. However, it should be mentioned that some manufacturers producePA12 can therefore be used for parts in contact with food, which is not always the case for PA11. However, there are also PA11 powders, like APC-Tec’s PA11 Blue, which are FDA approved for food contact.
to usePA11 and PA12 for 3D printing
existIn 3D printing, PA is mainly used in filament and powder form. We have also found PA resins for the SLA process, which mimic the properties of PA thermoplastics. PA filament, most often PA6, is mainly available in this form and only to a limited extent in powder form, which can also lead to processing problems. In contrast, powder processes mainly use PA11 and PA12. This is because of the thermoplastic properties of the material, as nylon is particularly good at warping or coming together when heated. These processes include selective laser sintering (SLS), multi-jet fusion, selective absorption fusion (SAF) and high-speed sintering (HSS). They are characterized by high productivity and the fact that powder not used for parts can be recycled to a certain extent.
MJF process (Image source: Hubs)
PA12 is more commonly used in additive manufacturing than PA11 due to its older availability and lower melting point. PA12 has a melting temperature of 175-180° (depending on the manufacturer), while PA11 only melts at around 200°. These differences in melting temperatures also explain why we cannot mix the powders together for the same print. Although most manufacturers offer specific basic solutions for each material, powder processing poses a challenge for these 3D printing processes.
Post-processing
Whatever your choiceThe PA11 and PA12 printing and post-processing processes are essential steps. So at this point there is no difference between the materials since both need to perform certain finishing steps. The first step is depowdering, which involves removing the pieces from the compact and vacuuming up the surrounding powder. This can then be recycled to some extent into new prints.batch. Different processes can extend the cleaning time of the part (since there is always some residual powder on the part) and improve the surface condition. In the following steps you can alsoParts PA11 and PA12 are painted or stained.
Post-processing is an important step in all powder-based processes. (Photo credit:(Protiq)
Applications of PA11 and PA12
Both materials belong to the same group of plastics, inThere are multiple applications in the 3D printing process, but there is some overlap in their application areas.
In the medical field, it can be used provided that the manufacturer declares it biocompatible.PA11 and PA12 powder. They are used in the manufacture of prosthetics, orthotics, medical devices and medical devices. However, in the medical field, PA 11 is more popular than PA12 due to its biocompatibility and flexibility, while PA12 generally has higher strength.
PA11 and PA12 are commonly used in prosthetics and orthotics. (Photo credit: EOS)
These two materials are also used in the automotive industry.PA11 is widely used in vehicle prototyping and mass production of parts. Due to its resistance to impact and chemicals, it can also be used to make crashed vehicle components such as gaskets, engine parts and coatings, both indoors (PA11 will not break) and ‘outdoors. PA12 is also used in automotive 3D printing, i.e. for vehicle construction, especially for precision piping, including pressure and shock resistant fuel lines. In aviation, PA11 is used for 3D printing, such as aircraft fairings and internal structural parts, due to its impact resistance and light weight. PA12 is also ideal for making precision hoses, especially pressure and shock resistant fuel lines. In the automotive and aerospace sectors, unlike PA12 valued for the lighter parts it produces and its contribution to energy efficiency, the advantage of PA12 lies in its rigidity and hardness, making it suitable for parts requiring higher resistance.
Both materials are also used in the sports industry:PA11 is used for its wear resistance (e.g. in ski coatings and soccer shoe soles) and good flexibility. Thanks to its particular mechanical resistance to low temperatures, PA12 can be used in winter sports equipment such as alpine and cross-country ski boots or ski bindings.
PA11 and PA12 are also used in the sports field. (Photo credit: Prodways/Salomon)
Both materials are used in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or electronics, as well as in the packaging industry,PA11 is particularly appreciated for its longevity, while PA12 is particularly appreciated for its high toughness. PA12 is used in the manufacture of precision pipes and tubes, especially pressure and shock resistant fuel lines, as well as wet drive elements or underwater transmission components (requiring precision high dimension) as well as mechanical structural components (such as hinges) and gears. as well as insulating films. In the field of electrical engineering and electronics, PA11 is used as an insulating and protective material for cables, connectors and housings of electronic equipment and, due to its particularly long service life, is often used in high technology applications.
Nylon connector (photo source:EOS）
Manufacturers and prices of PA11, PA12
Generally speaking, withPA12 is generally the more expensive variant in the nylon range compared to PA11, as demand for PA11 is still low at the moment. PA11 can be purchased from some manufacturers for €50/kg, but from others for €200/kg. The difference in price for the same type of powder is linked to whether it is a standard powder or an improved powder. If we compare the prices of finished parts made from two different materials, it is easy to see that mass-produced parts made of PA11 are much cheaper than PA12, around 30% cheaper, depending on the quantity produced. On the other hand, to create unique pieces, the use of PA12 is profitable.
Both materials are available from many manufacturers. in the most famousAmong the PA11 we find EMS-Grivory or the French group Arkema which markets PA11 under the name RILSAN® PA11. Arkema also offers PA12, which previously had the same name as PA11 but is now renamed RILSAMID® for better differentiation. PA12 is also often marketed under the names VESTAMID® or VESTOSINT®. BASF Chemical Group also offers PA12 and PA11 in powder form. PA12 is also found at manufacturers like Evonik, but also at 3D Systems and Farsoon, which offer powders developed in partnership with chemical companies but keep these material development partnerships confidential.
In addition to inventing more environmentally friendly productsIn addition to PA11 materials, different manufacturers are increasingly working to make PA12 production more organic and green. For example, German equipment and materials supplier EOS offers PA12 as a high-performance alternative to popular ABS or PA6 plastics in injection molding and continually improves the production efficiency of this material, e.g. by using energy renewables to reduce its carbon footprint. There are also polyamide powders with added Kevlar fibers, carbon fibers and even glass beads on the market. For example, this thermoplastic from HP contains 40% glass beads and has a high recycling rate. The material name is PA12 High Reusability 3D HP Glass Beads. Recently, HP also announced the launch of a new PA12 powder developed in cooperation with Arkema, called HP 3D HR PA 12 S. Its reuse rate reaches 85%, helping to reduce waste.
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