| HS Code | 951405 |
| Material Type | Polyamide 12 (Nylon 12) |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Tensile Strength | 48 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 1700 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 12% |
| Flexural Strength | 69 MPa |
| Flexural Modulus | 1500 MPa |
| Notched Izod Impact Strength | 4.0 kJ/m² |
| Hardness | 75 Shore D |
| Melting Point | 184 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 0 45 Mpa | 165 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 1 82 Mpa | 80 °C |
| Water Absorption | 0.5% |
As an accredited 3D Systems DuraForm ProX PA Plastic factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | 3D Systems DuraForm ProX PA Plastic is packaged in a 10 kg moisture-barrier foil bag inside a sturdy carton. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL loading for 3D Systems DuraForm ProX PA Plastic: palletized, shrink-wrapped, dry container, ambient temperature, secured cargo, non-hazardous transport. |
| Shipping | During transport, 3D Systems DuraForm ProX PA Plastic is generally shipped as a non-hazardous, non-regulated material. It has no UN number, hazard class, or packing group under DOT, IATA, or IMDG rules. Package in sealed, moisture-resistant containers to prevent contamination, and follow combustible-dust handling precautions. |
| Storage | Store DuraForm ProX PA Plastic in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in its original, tightly sealed container. Protect from moisture, humidity, heat, direct sunlight, sparks, and open flames. Keep away from oxidizing agents and incompatible materials. Avoid dust generation and static discharge. Maintain good housekeeping; use appropriate grounding and PPE when handling. Do not store near food or drink. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 24 months when stored sealed in original container in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture. |
Across low-volume commercial vehicle platforms, underhood air-intake ducts and resonator shells are produced from DuraForm ProX PA Plastic when tooling-free geometry changes are required before final injection-mold release. The powder-bed fusion process supports wall sections from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm, allowing integrated snap tabs, weld bosses, and acoustic tuning necks without parting-line constraints. For engine-compartment qualification, prototype ducts are typically screened against ISO 16750-3:2012 using stepped sine and random vibration profiles identified from shaker accelerance response; typical engine-mounted test profiles demand peak acceleration values between 30 m/s² and 80 m/s² across 20 Hz to 2000 Hz. Unfilled polyamide 12 tested under ASTM D638-14 at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity generally exhibits elongation at break above 15%, so crack initiation at thin-section attachment regions is the primary failure mode rather than gross brittle fracture. Continuous-use temperature must remain below the oxidative embrittlement boundary; published unfilled PA12 heat-aging data show acceptable elongation retention after 1000 h at 100 °C when tested per ISO 188:2011, but exposure above 120 °C shortens service life sharply. Because the sintered surface retains a micro-porous profile, pressure-side ducts require sealing at weld joints and flange faces; bead-blast finishing or low-viscosity lacquer impregnation is commonly applied before pneumatic leak testing. This material should not be specified for turbocharger outflow sections where continuous gas temperatures exceed 110 °C and oil mist carries abrasive particulates.
Oil-filled coolant surge reservoirs, secondary air-pump muffler housings, and small hydraulic breather tanks are produced from unfilled laser-sintered PA12 for low water absorption relative to PA6, but the design envelope is set by chemical exposure rather than tensile strength alone. Immersion testing per ISO 175:2010 in IRM 903 oil at 100 °C for 72 h generally produces volume swell below 2% for unfilled PA12, while exposure to methanol-blended fuels above 15% alcohol content can induce environmental stress cracking at thin weld-joint radii. Water absorption at saturation under ISO 62:2008 typically remains below 1.6%, and the dimensional change at 50% relative humidity is generally below 0.3% linear. Reservoir walls are specified at 2.0 mm minimum, and attach points are reinforced with triangular gussets; weld bosses are placed at least 8 mm from curvature reversals. For non-visible fluid containers, process engineers commonly apply a high-density sealant pass after steam cleaning to close interlayer pores. Production leak testing is performed under 70 kPa pneumatic pressure with pressure-decay instruments using a 0.02 kPa/min pass threshold. Components should be annealed at 150 °C for 2 h in circulating air to relieve residual stress before hot-oil contact. The service limit for continuous oil immersion is 90 °C to 100 °C; excursions above 115 °C cause progressive creep at internal snap grooves and closure ribs.
In consumer electronic housings and wearable mounting brackets, snap-fit retention calculations require conditioned-modulus input values rather than dry-laser-sintered datasheet readings. After conditioning at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity per ISO 1110:2019, unfilled PA12 can lose 25% to 35% of its dry tensile modulus recorded under ASTM D638-14; a cantilever snap arm designed with dry modulus therefore returns lower insertion and retention forces in field service. The recommended analysis uses creep modulus from ISO 899-2:2021 at 1000 h for polyamide 12 and a strain limit of 3.5% at the snap root. For painted exterior surfaces, flame or plasma pre-treatment must not exceed 120 °C local surface temperature because thin-wall sections relax around support ribs. Low-bake coatings cured at 80 °C for 30 min are preferred over high-bake two-component systems. Edge-weld lines and sintered surfaces require primer sealing before topcoat application to prevent solvent entrapment in surface pores. Housings with living hinges should limit hinge thickness from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm and orient the hinge length perpendicular to the build axis to reduce interlayer fatigue. Snap-fit assembly fixtures should control insertion speed below 50 mm/s to avoid adiabatic heating at the snap contact point.
Inside automotive manufacturing cells, robotic end-effectors, inspection nests, and line-side assembly tools are built from unfilled PA12 powder to reduce mass and integrate vacuum channels without machined manifolds. A typical end-of-arm vacuum gripper frame at 1.8 kg replaces an aluminum equivalent at 5.4 kg; the mass reduction lowers cycle energy on a six-axis robot with a 12 kg payload rating. Tooling deflection is calculated from flexural modulus measured under ISO 178:2019 at 23 °C, using a conservative design stress of 10 MPa for cyclic loading. Unfilled PA12 lacks glass reinforcement, so high-contact areas are fitted with replaceable 316L stainless steel wear plates or hardened steel locating pins; abrasive pallet positioning without inserts results in visible groove wear within 5000 cycles. Vacuum channels printed at 4 mm diameter must be flushed with dry compressed air before first use to remove residual powder. The material should be excluded from tooling that contacts hot metal parts above 120 °C or environments with sharp glass-fiber-reinforced workpieces.
Aircraft cabin air-distribution duct segments, air louver housings, and video monitor shrouds are candidate geometries for unfilled PA12 when mass reduction and inventory flexibility are prioritized. Certification for cabin interiors is governed by FAR 25.853(a) Appendix F Part I vertical Bunsen burner requirements, with common pass criteria of average burn length not exceeding 6 in, average flame time not exceeding 15 s, and no flaming drips. Smoke density requirements under AITM 2.0007 or ASTM E662 typically require maximum specific optical density below 200 within 4 min, while heat release testing per FAR 25.853 Appendix F Part IV uses OSU calorimetry with peak heat release rate and total heat release limits of 65 kW/m² and 65 kW·min/m², respectively. SLS wall porosity, especially at layer interfaces, can alter flame propagation if surface porosity exceeds 5% of cross-sectional area; micro-CT inspection per ASTM E1441 or sectioning is therefore recommended on first-article parts. For powder-bed PA12, batch-to-batch color variation and powder reuse ratio influence flame performance; each production build campaign must include sacrificial test bars for thickness-dependent vertical burn testing. Air-duct segments should be sealed with an approved intumescent or low-viscosity epoxy coating when pore closure is required. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; airframe approvals require final testing on production-intent parts with the actual powder-refresh protocol and post-processing line used for flight units.
| Test | Standard | Common Acceptance Limit | First-Article Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical burn | FAR 25.853(a) App F Part I | Burn length ≤ 6 in; flame time ≤ 15 s; no drip | Print bars at 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm thickness |
| Smoke density | AITM 2.0007 / ASTM E662 | Ds ≤ 200 at 4 min | Conditioned at 70 °C and 50% RH |
| Heat release | FAR 25.853 App F Part IV | Peak HRR ≤ 65 kW/m²; total HR ≤ 65 kW·min/m² | OSU calorimetry on production-thickness panel |
Production campaigns that alternate between cabin-duct and automotive-tooling builds on a single ProX SLS 6100-class machine require segregated powder-management practices to maintain particle-size distribution and melt-flow stability. After each build, breakout operators recover used powder and blend fresh material at a defined refresh ratio; for durability-critical polyamide 12 parts, the ratio of fresh powder is held between 20% and 50% depending on the fraction of overflow material collected. Powder quality is monitored by melt volume-flow rate testing under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 235 °C with 2.16 kg, with an upper control limit commonly set at 1.3 times the virgin-powder value; increases beyond this indicate chain extension or oxidation. Differential scanning calorimetry under ISO 11357-3:2018 is used to verify melting onset, peak melting, and crystallinity remain within ±2 °C of the virgin-lot reference. Powder homogenization uses a mechanical tumbler blender with a baffled container, not manual scoop mixing, for at least 15 min per 25 kg batch. Cross-contamination is critical: the machine must be purged between glass-filled nylon builds and unfilled PA12 builds because glass particles act as crack nuclei in thin snap features. The upper service temperature of mixed-generation powder is reduced by 5 °C after the third reuse cycle. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, so control limits should be established using an initial capability study of at least 20 production builds.
| Reuse Cycle | Fresh Powder Ratio | Melt Volume-Flow Rate | DSC Peak Melting Shift | Application Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin | 100% | Establish baseline per ISO 1133-1:2022 | Reference | Flight-grade parts |
| 1st reuse | 30%–50% | ≤ 1.2 × virgin | ≤ ±1 °C | Flight-grade with batch testing |
| 2nd–3rd reuse | 30%–50% | ≤ 1.3 × virgin | ≤ ±2 °C | Automotive/tooling only |
| ≥4th reuse | Not recommended | Reject if > 1.3 × | Reject if > ±2 °C | Non-structural uses |
Because unfilled PA12 laser sintering does not require hard tooling, prosthetic socket fittings and orthotic component housings can be iterated from patient scan data with wall thicknesses between 2 mm and 5 mm. For skin-contact applications, the supplier must provide a current biocompatibility evaluation under ISO 10993-5:2009 and ISO 10993-10:2010 for the specific powder lot, because post-processing vapor smoothing and dyeing agents can alter extractables. Mechanical design uses tensile properties measured per ISO 527-2:2012 on printed test coupons oriented in the z-axis, since interlayer tensile strength may be 20% lower than in-plane values. Moisture uptake from perspiration follows the humidity-dependent absorption curve of PA12; dimensional change at 50% relative humidity is typically below 0.3% linear, but saturated conditions can exceed 1.2%. Socket walls must therefore include ventilated openings or a moisture barrier liner to limit direct skin contact. Structural fatigue is screened in flexion using a ±0.5% strain-controlled cycle at 1 Hz for 100,000 cycles; localized cracking at build lines is considered a rejection criterion. Unfilled PA12 should not be specified for dynamic prosthetic components such as articulating knee mechanisms where continuous cyclic stress exceeds 20 MPa. The component surface must be sealed with an appropriate medical-grade coating after tumbling, because residual powder in surface pores can harbor contamination. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; patient-matched devices should be validated for mechanical safety factor under ISO 22523:2020 for external limb prostheses and classified under ISO 8549-3:2020.
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3D Systems DuraForm ProX PA Plastic is an unfilled polyamide 12 (PA12) powder formulated for selective laser sintering on the ProX SLS 500 platform. The powder is supplied as a natural-white, free-flowing material with a specified processing layer thickness of 100 µm. The datasheet positions the grade between general-purpose unfilled PA12 and filled high-stiffness SLS powders by providing a tensile strength of 46 MPa (6,670 psi) per ASTM D638, tensile modulus of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi), elongation at break of 35% per ASTM D638, flexural strength of 57 MPa (8,300 psi) per ASTM D790, flexural modulus of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), notched Izod impact of 47 J/m per ASTM D256, and Shore D hardness of 73 per ASTM D2240. Thermal values include heat deflection temperatures of 175°C at 0.45 MPa and 87°C at 1.82 MPa per ASTM D648, and a melting point of 186°C per ASTM D3418. The sintered part density is published as 0.95 g/cm³ per ASTM D792, with moisture absorption of 0.22% per ASTM D570. These values are manufacturer-generated datasheet figures, not guaranteed minima; part-level properties vary with build orientation, powder refresh ratio, and post-build thermal history.
| Property | Datasheet value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength, ultimate | 46 MPa (6,670 psi) | ASTM D638 |
| Tensile modulus | 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) | ASTM D638 |
| Elongation at break | 35% | ASTM D638 |
| Flexural strength | 57 MPa (8,300 psi) | ASTM D790 |
| Flexural modulus | 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) | ASTM D790 |
| Notched Izod impact | 47 J/m | ASTM D256 |
| Unnotched Izod impact | 370 J/m | ASTM D256 |
| Shore D hardness | 73 | ASTM D2240 |
| Heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa | 175°C | ASTM D648 |
| Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa | 87°C | ASTM D648 |
| Melting point | 186°C | ASTM D3418 |
| Density | 0.95 g/cm³ | ASTM D792 |
| Moisture absorption, 24 h | 0.22% | ASTM D570 |
The datasheet values are generated on specimens built in a defined orientation; SLS-processed PA12 is anisotropic. Z-direction tensile properties are generally lower than XY-plane values because interlayer coalescence and porosity are orientation-dependent. Published data for this specific configuration is limited to manufacturer datasheets and does not replace part-level testing on the ProX SLS 500 build orientation selected for production.
Notched Izod impact of 47 J/m and unnotched Izod impact of 370 J/m indicate that the material is ductile under blunt loading but notch-sensitive under sharp impact. This behavior is typical of unfilled semicrystalline PA12 and informs snap-fit and clip design.
The melting point of the polymer is 186°C per ASTM D3418. In the ProX SLS 500 build chamber, the powder bed is held below the melting peak to avoid agglomeration of unsintered powder but above the crystallization onset of the PA12 to minimize curl. The exact set point is a function of the powder lots, part geometry, and build packing density; published data for this specific configuration is limited to equipment manufacturer guidance. When the bed temperature is too high, semi-sintered powder attaches to downward-facing surfaces and creates orange-peel roughness. When the bed temperature is too low, parts curl upward from the build plate, delaminate at layer interfaces, and can cause the recoating blade to strike the part. Production-scale operation therefore requires closed-loop infrared heating, nitrogen inerting, and uniform powder bed temperature control. The 100 µm layer thickness makes recoating sensitive to powder particle size distribution; oversize agglomerates, moisture, and electrostatic charge can produce short feeds, dragging, and surface discontinuities.
The semicrystalline nature of PA12 creates a narrow processing window between the melt endotherm and the crystallization exotherm. The melt endotherm includes lamellar melting of the crystal population; the crystallization exotherm may be broadened by molecular weight changes during recycling. Operators maintain the part surface above the crystallization exotherm during the build to reduce residual stress. Laser energy density is not disclosed for the ProX SLS 500, but the effective melt pool depth must exceed the layer thickness to promote interlayer diffusion. If the energy input is insufficient, interlayer adhesion is incomplete and mechanical properties fall below datasheet values. If the energy input is excessive, the melt pool overheats, producing part growth and loss of small features.
Cool-down after completion is a process variable that influences final crystallinity and warpage. Large cross-section builds are cooled slowly in the build chamber before breakout to reduce residual stress. Fast cool-down can produce dimensional distortion and interfacial cracks between layers. Differential scanning calorimetry per ASTM D3418 is used to characterize powder and part thermal history in quality control.
Moisture absorption of the sintered part is published as 0.22% per ASTM D570. Unfused PA12 powder is hygroscopic; powder stored or exposed at relative humidity above 60% may require drying before reuse to avoid steam porosity and reduced elongation. The fresh-to-recycled powder ratio is a key operating parameter because recycled powder has been exposed to elevated temperature in the build chamber. Thermal oxidative aging increases melt viscosity and can shift the sintering window. Powder screening and controlled refresh are therefore used to maintain flowability and mechanical consistency. 3D Systems provides powder handling and refresh ratio guidance for the ProX SLS 500; published data for this specific configuration is limited to manufacturer technical bulletins.
Batch-to-batch variance in particle size distribution and moisture content is controlled by incoming inspection. A shift toward oversize particles can produce streaks in the powder bed, while a shift toward fines can reduce powder flow and increase electrostatic adhesion. In production, build failures traced to recoating defects are often associated with damp powder or insufficient sieving after the previous build. Drying and sieving before return to the machine are standard controls.
Substitution of DuraForm ProX PA Plastic with glass-filled DuraForm GF or with fiber-reinforced DuraForm HST Composite changes the stiffness–ductility balance. The unfilled ProX PA has a flexural modulus of 1,500 MPa per ASTM D790, an elongation at break of 35% per ASTM D638, and a notched Izod impact of 47 J/m per ASTM D256. Glass-filled grades raise flexural modulus and heat deflection temperature but reduce elongation and increase notch sensitivity. The glass fiber reinforcement also increases abrasiveness in the recoating system and may require more frequent recoater blade maintenance on the ProX SLS 500. Mineral-filled and fiber-reinforced powders are specified where dimensional stability under load or lower creep is more important than ductile failure; however, part-level published data for this specific configuration is limited to manufacturer datasheets that cannot be compared without identical build orientation, layer thickness, and powder refresh ratio.
The predecessor DuraForm PA grade is also unfilled PA12, but direct interchange of powders without requalification is not recommended because part properties are sensitive to powder melting behavior, particle size distribution, and refresh ratio. The ProX PA datasheet elongation at break of 35% is the primary mechanical distinction for snap-fit and living-hinge designs. If static dissipation, higher stiffness, or higher heat deflection is required, a filled grade is evaluated instead of ProX PA.
Functional prototypes and low-volume end-use parts are the primary usage categories. Snap-fit enclosures, living hinges, clips, air ducts, and fluid reservoirs have been evaluated against the 35% elongation at break (ASTM D638) and the notched Izod impact of 47 J/m (ASTM D256). For load-bearing parts under bending or tensile load, the lower heat deflection temperature of 87°C at 1.82 MPa (ASTM D648) is the relevant continuous-use ceiling; unfilled PA12 is not recommended for sustained exposure above this value. Chemical resistance follows general PA12 behavior: the material is resistant to many hydrocarbons, oils, greases, and weak alkalis, but is attacked by strong acids, oxidizing agents, and some phenolic solutions. Compatibility testing under actual service fluids and temperatures is required. Unprotected outdoor exposure can cause yellowing and embrittlement because the datasheet does not list long-term UV stabilisation.
After breakout, parts are typically bead-blasted to remove unsintered powder and may be dyed, machined, tapped, or sealed. Dyeing introduces a heated aqueous bath that can cause slight moisture uptake and dimensional change; parts should be dried and stabilized before final inspection. Fluid reservoirs made from PA12 may require sealants because laser-sintered parts have residual porosity. Pressure testing under application-specific conditions is required before service.
Quality control for production parts relies on dimensional scanning, mass checks, and mechanical test coupons built in the same build chamber at the same orientation as the production parts. Because Z-direction properties are lower than XY-plane properties, critical tensile or flexural loads are oriented in the XY plane where possible. The unfilled grade is machinable with standard twist drills and taps, using lower cutting speeds than metals to avoid melting.
Compared with injection-molded PA12, sintered ProX PA parts have lower density (0.95 g/cm³ versus 1.01 g/cm³ for fully dense PA12) and directional mechanical properties. The anisotropic behavior is due to layerwise fusion and residual porosity at layer boundaries. These differences are design inputs rather than process defects: interlayer boundaries can act as preferential crack paths, so tensile specimens oriented perpendicular to the build plane may fail below the datasheet XY-plane value. Published data for the Z-direction strength of this specific grade is limited; part-level testing is required for critical load paths.
Regulatory compliance must be confirmed against the current safety data sheet and supplier certification. The unfilled PA12 chemistry is generally covered under standard industrial chemical notifications; however, no specific REACH, RoHS, food-contact, or biocompatibility claim is made here. For medical or food-contact applications, separate validation against the relevant ISO 10993 or FDA 21 CFR pathways is required because the datasheet does not establish biocompatibility. Flammability classification should be confirmed on the actual part thickness according to UL 94; unfilled PA12 is typically classified as UL 94 HB, but the final rating depends on thickness and test configuration.
Storage and handling condition the powder. Sealed containers are required to prevent moisture uptake; cold powder moved into a humid production area may condense water on particle surfaces, and the resulting damp powder can create porosity and loss of elongation at break. Drying and sieving before return to the machine are standard controls.
