| HS Code | 762693 |
| Material | Nylon 11 (Polyamide 11) |
| Color | Black |
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ |
| Bulk Density | 0.53 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 201 °C |
| Particle Size D50 | 58 µm |
| Tensile Strength | 47 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 1700 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 45% |
| Impact Strength Notched Izod | 5.4 kJ/m² |
As an accredited ALM PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | ALM PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11: supplied 20 kg in a moisture-barrier bag within a sturdy box, ensuring safe handling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL shipment of ALM PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11, palletized and secured, weight-optimized for safe, efficient transport. |
| Shipping | ALM PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 ships as a non-hazardous polymer powder. It is packed in sealed, moisture-barrier containers to prevent humidity absorption. Avoid exposure to static electricity, sparks, and dust accumulation. Store in a cool, dry area and keep containers closed when not in use to preserve powder flow and print quality. |
| Storage | Store ALM PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 in its original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from moisture, direct sunlight, and heat sources. Avoid exposure to air for prolonged periods to prevent moisture absorption. Use within recommended shelf life and reseal immediately after dispensing. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 12 months from date of manufacture when stored sealed, cool, and dry. |
In underhood air induction and fuel vapor recovery layouts, PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 is processed as a ready-to-use 100 wt% neat laser-sintering feedstock where the low equilibrium moisture uptake of polyamide 11, determined by immersion methods such as ISO 62:2008, reduces dimensional shift after hygroscopic saturation. The addition ratio for production runs is defined by refreshed powder blend rather than melt compounding: non-safety service parts commonly use up to 30 wt% recycled powder after 150 µm sieve classification and virgin-powder refresh, while fuel vapor canister retention clips are built exclusively from virgin powder to avoid reduced elongation in snap features. Conformity is anchored to ISO 527-2:2012 tensile testing using Type 1A specimens, ISO 1183-1:2019 density determination, and SAE J2260 fuel-system tubing validation where OEM vapor recovery homologation applies; general chemical registration is assessed under REACH 1907/2006, and electrical/electronic ancillaries are assessed under RoHS 2011/65/EU. On the production floor, parts are generated on 30–100 W CO₂-laser powder-bed fusion platforms with layer thickness maintained between 0.10 mm and 0.12 mm; the powder bed setpoint is held within ±2 °C of the machine-specific crystallization window because excursions larger than ±3 °C at the build edges produce curl-induced delamination at thick-to-thin wall transitions. Terminal components include turbocharger inlet duct adapters, fuel vapor canister mounting brackets, low-pressure oil separation baffle housings, and airbox resonator flanges.
Batch-to-batch variance on production-scale trays is dominated by edge-to-center powder bed temperature drift rather than resin lot variation. When the IR heater calibration has not been verified after maintenance, parts located in the outer 50 mm of the build area can exhibit lower tensile elongation and a higher surface orange-peel defect rate; production facilities therefore place shortened ISO 527-2 test coupons at the four corners of the tray before releasing safety-related automotive service parts from that build campaign.
The dominant constraint in commercial aircraft cabin air distribution is not mechanical strength but fireworthiness and smoke opacity. PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 is specified for nonstructural interior components requiring part-specific qualification under 14 CFR 25.853 Appendix F vertical/horizontal burn and, where the aircraft specification invokes it, smoke density testing per ASTM E662-21. Feedstock addition ratio is set at 100 wt% virgin powder for duct wall sections and louvre assemblies; a recycled fraction up to 15 wt% is accepted only when the refreshed blend demonstrates Charpy notched impact strength according to ISO 179-1:2010 and tensile elongation at break according to ISO 527-2:2012 on each build lot. Production processing uses 70–100 W CO₂-laser powder-bed fusion on platforms equivalent to EOSINT P395 or ProX SLS 6100 configurations, with 0.10 mm layer thickness for wall sections not below 1.2 mm; thinner duct liners at 0.5 mm require reduced scan power and contour overlap above 0.15 mm to prevent porosity-related smoke release. After depowdering, surfaces are bead-blasted with 180–220 µm glass media and sealed where pressure differential exceeds 2 kPa. Terminal product types include cabin air louvres, galley ventilation outlet housings, overhead panel duct flanges, and cable standoff brackets. The grade should not be used for primary structural or exterior flight-critical parts without additional airframe-specific qualification.
When a clinical engineering unit moves from milled polyurethane foam to laser-sintered polyamide 11, the critical change is the need for biological risk assessment under ISO 10993-1:2018 and cytocompatibility testing under ISO 10993-5:2009, with the manufacturer's quality system maintained to ISO 13485:2016. The powder is used as supplied at 100 wt%; no pigment dilution, filler, or recycled powder is introduced because patient-contact devices require traceable lot-to-lot consistency and the black coloration is already incorporated in the base feedstock. For surgical instrument positioning cradles, the same no-additive ratio applies, and any subsequent surface treatment is limited to a low-viscosity, non-cytotoxic polyurethane sealant applied at 0.5–1.0 wt% of part mass to close residual surface porosity without altering flexural behavior. Production starts with selective laser sintering at 0.10 mm layer thickness and deliberate build orientation that places tensile load paths in the XY plane; depowdering uses compressed air and soft-bristle brushing rather than aggressive abrasive blasting to avoid embedding glass media in pores. Terminal product types include wrist-hand orthoses, cranial positioning supports, reusable surgical tray inserts, CT imaging fixtures, and radiotherapy positioning frames. This grade is not certified for permanent implant use, and autoclave or gamma resterilization protocols must be validated for the final sealed configuration because the neat powder-bed article is not inherently supplied sterile.
Snap-fit covers and living-hinge retention clips in body-worn consumer electronics housings are built directly without tooling; the critical formulation decision is therefore powder handling rather than polymer compounding. The material is processed neat at 100 wt%; if a tribocharge-related spreading defect appears in build rooms below 25% relative humidity, a dry-flow additive may be dispersed at 0.1–0.3 wt% after a powder-rheology audit on a Freeman FT4 or equivalent shear cell, not as a melt-phase diluent. Compliance is assessed under RoHS 2011/65/EU, REACH 1907/2006, IEC 62368-1:2023 for audio/video and information technology equipment safety, and UL 94 HB flame classification on actual production wall thicknesses. Downstream processing uses 0.10 mm layer thickness with living hinges designed at 0.4–0.6 mm thickness and oriented in the XY plane to avoid delamination at the hinge root; post-build flex cycling is conducted at ±30° deflection until the hinge reaches the specified cycle count distribution. Terminal product types include wearable fitness tracker frames, earbud charging case snap clamps, foldable display cable retainers, and eyeglass temple hinges.
Chemical metering pump components fabricated from PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 are specified when the fluid stream contains aliphatic hydrocarbons, mineral oil, aqueous salt solutions, or dilute neutral detergents, but not concentrated oxidizing acids, phenols, or formic acid above trace concentration. The feedstock is used at 100 wt% neat powder; after laser sintering, sealing surfaces are CNC-machined and vacuum-impregnated with a low-viscosity anaerobic sealant at 1.5–2.0 wt% part mass to close interconnected pores before hydrostatic proof testing at 1.5× maximum working pressure. Compliance is verified through ISO 527-2:2012 tensile elongation after chemical immersion, ISO 175:2010 chemical resistance testing for representative process fluids, and ISO 178:2019 flexural strength for pressure-bearing housing ribs; where explosive atmospheres are present, the pump assembly is assessed under ATEX 2014/34/EU as a finished system, not as raw powder. Downstream production includes CO₂-laser powder-bed fusion at 0.12 mm layer thickness for volute walls, post-build annealing at 120 °C for 4 h to limit service creep, and machining of tongue-and-groove sealing faces to H7 dimensional tolerance. Terminal product types include diaphragm pump heads, gear pump wear plates, chemical dosing valve retainers, and centrifugal pump volute liners.
The principal processing conflict is porosity control at the machined seal interface. In low-volume production runs, residual sub-surface pores can open after facing operations if the SLS fill scan density is reduced below the equipment-specific standard for chemical service; this creates a leak path that cannot be corrected by sealant coating alone. Build service bureaus therefore specify a minimum double-scan fill pattern on all volute-to-cover sealing surfaces and perform helium leak testing at 0.05 MPa differential pressure before dispatch. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, so each fluid group must be validated by immersion testing rather than inferred from generic polyamide compatibility tables.
Short-run replacement parts for rail interior cable clips and industrial automation guards are produced from PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 where injection tooling is uneconomical and the service temperature remains below the deflection threshold of the grade. Compliance for European railway applications must be validated part by part under EN 45545-2:2013+A1:2015; published data for this specific configuration is limited, so a preliminary flammability and smoke screening under ISO 5659-2:2017 and ISO 5660-1:2015 is recommended before a full HL rating claim. For non-rail industrial automation parts, conformity is anchored to RoHS 2011/65/EU, REACH 1907/2006, and dimensional audit under ISO 2768-1:2010 class mK or customer equivalent. The powder is generally processed neat at 100 wt%; a 20 wt% recycled fraction may be used for low-load guards and cable clips only after tensile elongation per ISO 527-2:2012 and dimensional stability at 80 °C for 24 h show less than 0.3% linear change. Downstream production uses a 30–100 W CO₂-laser powder-bed fusion system with 0.10 mm layer thickness, intentional XY-plane orientation for snap features, depowdering with compressed air, and glass-bead finishing at 180–220 µm media size to remove surface adhesion without reducing snap engagement. Terminal product types include rail seatback tray hinges, cable chain brackets, robot gripper jaws, conveyor guide rails, and protective interlock guards.
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ALM PA 840-GSL Black Nylon 11 is identified in supplier documentation as a black-pigmented polyamide 11 powder for laser sintering, containing a glass-sphere reinforcement fraction indicated by the GSL suffix. The base resin is a long-chain aliphatic polyamide with lower amide-group density than PA 6 and PA 66; this structural difference is the primary reason that unfilled polyamide 11 reaches an equilibrium moisture absorption commonly reported near 1.9% by mass at 23 °C and 50% RH when evaluated under ISO 62:2008. In the filled PA 840-GSL grade, the glass-sphere phase is non-hygroscopic, so total moisture uptake on a mass basis is generally lower than an equivalent unfilled PA 11, but the polyamide matrix remains the moisture-sensitive component. The material is supplied as a free-flowing black powder for powder bed fusion systems using CO₂ lasers; black pigmentation modifies radiative absorption at the 10.6 µm wavelength and therefore prevents direct transfer of laser parameters from natural or white nylon 11 grades without re-optimization.
The product occupies a position between unfilled PA 11 and more rigid filled PA 12 formulations. The glass-sphere fraction increases elastic modulus and lowers strain at yield relative to neat PA 11, but it does not produce the same processing window, thermal response, or moisture equilibrium as a mineral-filled PA 12. Incoming powder condition is a process variable that controls part density and surface finish. Bulk density and particle size distribution should be verified against the supplier’s certificate of analysis; deviations in bulk density greater than 5% relative to the qualified lot may indicate filler segregation, moisture uptake, or particle shape drift. The raw powder is a solid particulate at ambient conditions, but workplace handling should follow the current safety data sheet and dust-control procedures applicable to polyamide powders.
Powder bed fusion of PA 840-GSL begins with conditioning of the feedstock. Moisture content is commonly determined by ISO 15512:2016 or by a calibrated halogen moisture balance; if no grade-specific limit is supplied, a conservative starting point for polyamide 11 powders is drying in a dry-air desiccant dryer at 80 °C to 90 °C for 4 h to 6 h. This guidance is not a substitute for lot-specific instructions. Particle size distribution is measured by laser diffraction according to ISO 13320:2020; reported D10, D50, and D90 values allow the user to adjust recoating speed and layer uniformity. Glass-sphere-filled powders can show a wider particle size spread than neat PA 11, and reclaimed powder can shift in filler concentration because fines and filler particles are not always recovered at the same ratio. A vibrating sieve with a mesh aperture near 150 µm is generally used for recovered powder, but reincorporation ratios should be fixed experimentally for PA 840-GSL. Storage at relative humidity above 60% RH may require desiccant or nitrogen-blanketed conditions, especially for open containers left at the machine feed deck.
The mechanical response of PA 840-GSL is controlled by the glass-sphere volume fraction and the interfacial adhesion between filler and polyamide 11 matrix. The filler raises elastic modulus and flexural modulus while reducing ultimate elongation and strain at break. The size of that shift is not a fixed material constant; it depends on production lot, surface treatment of the glass spheres, and absorbed moisture at the time of testing. A dry-as-printed specimen is stiffer and more brittle than a specimen conditioned at 23 °C and 50% RH; therefore comparative mechanical data without a stated conditioning protocol are not technically meaningful. Test methods for printed PA 840-GSL components include ISO 527-2 for tensile stress at yield and elongation, ISO 178 for flexural modulus, ISO 179-1/1eA for notched Charpy impact, and ISO 75-2:2013 for heat deflection temperature. North American test programs may accept ASTM D638 data, but values are not directly interchangeable with ISO 527-2 because specimen cross-section and strain-rate conditions differ.
Published data for this exact glass-sphere-filled black PA 11 configuration are limited in open literature; batch certificates from the supplier should be used for design allowables. The expected trend, however, is clear from the filler chemistry: tensile modulus and flexural modulus increase, ultimate tensile strain decreases, and notched impact may decrease relative to unfilled PA 11. Heat deflection temperature may rise slightly because rigid glass spheres reduce the proportion of amorphous matrix contributing to deflection under load. The improvement in dimensional stiffness must be balanced against lower tolerance for snap-fit and living-hinge deformation. In applications requiring repeated high strain, an unfilled PA 11 may remain the more conservative material choice, while PA 840-GSL is more appropriate where higher stiffness and black appearance are required simultaneously.
| Property domain | Method | Specimen and orientation note |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile stress at yield and elongation | ISO 527-2 | XY and Z orientation; rate 1 mm/min |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178 | Flatwise bending of rectangular bars |
| Notched Charpy impact | ISO 179-1/1eA | Conditioned at 23 °C / 50% RH |
| Heat deflection temperature | ISO 75-2:2013 | Method A or B according to load condition |
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | Archimedes or gas pycnometry |
| Moisture content | ISO 15512 | Karl Fischer or loss-on-drying adjusted for polyamide chemistry |
| Particle size distribution | ISO 13320 | Laser diffraction with dry or wet dispersion |
During powder bed fusion, the polymer is not simply melted by heated tooling. Energy is absorbed from a focused CO₂ laser and converted into a local melt pool that must penetrate the current layer while fusing to the previous layer. The black pigmentation of PA 840-GSL increases effective absorption relative to white or natural nylon 11, reducing the energy input required for full fusion but increasing the risk of surface over-melting when laser parameters are not re-optimized. Build chamber temperature is typically held within a narrow band around the crystalline melting range of PA 11, measured by differential scanning calorimetry according to ISO 11357-3:2018. Unfilled PA 11 melts near 201 °C; the glass-sphere filler does not necessarily shift this peak, but it can alter recrystallization behavior during slow cooling after the build. Layer thickness is commonly maintained between 0.10 mm and 0.12 mm, depending on machine optics and the particle size distribution of the lot. Glass-sphere-filled powder produces higher shear resistance in the powder bed; recoater speed and feed temperature must be adjusted to avoid streaking, short feed, or sidewall defects.
Large flat parts printed from black polyamide 11 can show elevated edge lift when chamber temperature deviates from the qualified setpoint by more than 2 °C. This sensitivity is not an intrinsic flaw of the material but a consequence of higher laser absorption in black-pigmented powders, which narrows the practical processing window compared with some white polyamide 12 materials. Thermal imaging of the build margins and test-bar arrays at the borders of the build envelope are used to monitor temperature drift during long builds. Melt viscosity of polyamide 11 is higher than many PA 12 feedstocks; the glass-sphere filler further restricts melt pool spreading, so an increased overlap factor or reduced scan spacing may be required to reach comparable density. A parameter transfer from PA 12 to PA 840-GSL is not recommended because the optimal volumetric energy density, chamber temperature, and cooling profile are not interchangeable. Recoater jams on non-heated blade systems can occur when the powder bed is too cold; a heated blade or roller can reduce the relative humidity at the powder surface and improve layer formation.
Polyamide 11 is frequently selected over PA 6, PA 66, and PA 12 for service environments in which low water uptake, ductility after moisture conditioning, and resistance to automotive lubricants are required. The glass-sphere-filled PA 840-GSL variant extends that selection to components needing higher modulus and lower creep, but it retains the polyamide 11 chemistry. When PA 12 is replaced by PA 840-GSL, the design must accept a higher processing temperature, a different equilibrium moisture content, and generally lower ultimate elongation. The glass-sphere filler reduces the coefficient of linear thermal expansion, which can improve dimensional stability in long thin brackets and housings; expansion can be measured by thermomechanical analysis in accordance with ISO 11359-2:2021. Fluid exposure should be evaluated by immersion testing according to ISO 175:2010 or ASTM D543-21, with acceptance criteria covering visual change, mass change, dimensional change, and retention of tensile stress at yield. Polyamide 11 has shown lower sensitivity to moisture-induced embrittlement swings than PA 66 in some under-hood service environments, but every contact medium must be confirmed for the specific printed geometry and surface porosity.
Black pigmentation can reduce the need for secondary coating in low-visibility internal components, although surface de-powdering and bead blasting are still required to close or control open surface porosity. For snap-fit features and living hinges, an unfilled PA 11 may remain the safer material because glass-sphere reinforcement reduces plastic strain to failure. PA 840-GSL is therefore not a drop-in replacement for high-elongation nylon 11 where repeated flexure controls part life. In oil-exposed hardware, the glass-sphere filler can improve resistance to creep under load, but long-term exposure testing should be conducted at the maximum service temperature rather than at room temperature only. A mass increase greater than 3% after 7 d at 40 °C in a screening immersion test may indicate that the printed part requires sealing, a coating, or a different material for that fluid contact.
For serialized production environments, the material documentation package should include the safety data sheet, REACH registration status under EC 1907/2006, and RoHS compliance under Directive 2011/65/EU as amended. Because PA 840-GSL is produced as a black-pigmented glass-sphere formulation, the pigment and filler are part of the regulatory boundary; a change in pigment source or filler surface treatment must be communicated by the supplier before requalification. The table below summarizes the regulatory and test documentation used for lot acceptance.
| Requirement | Reference | Acceptance evidence |
|---|---|---|
| REACH registration | EC 1907/2006 | Supplier SDS with registration number and SVHC statement |
| RoHS restricted substances | Directive 2011/65/EU | Supplier declaration or test report |
| Conflict minerals reporting | Form SD / Dodd-Frank 1502 | Supplier declaration |
| Occupational dust exposure | SDS Section 8 | Dust control plan; P2 or P3 filter recommendation |
Finished components are evaluated as printed rather than machined when the service requirement includes fatigue, creep, or chemical exposure, because the surface skin formed during powder bed fusion can have different crystallinity and porosity than the core. For black functional housings, sensor brackets, and fluid-contact manifolds, PA 840-GSL is used when the design requires moderate elongation, higher modulus than unfilled PA 11, black surface finish, and lower moisture sensitivity than short-chain polyamides. In corrosion-sensitive assemblies, metal inserts should be isolated from moisture because the interface between the insert and the polyamide can retain water and promote localized stress cracking. Final acceptance for a service application should be based on test coupons printed in the same build orientation and with the same virgin-recovered powder blend as the production parts. The controlling acceptance variables are XY tensile strength, Z tensile strength, moisture-conditioned impact, density, and the specific chemical exposure response. These variables are established in the supplier’s material qualification plan and repeated after any change in laser power, layer thickness, or recycled powder fraction. The application envelope should not be extended to an unvalidated fluid or temperature range without repeating the associated test protocol.
