| HS Code | 923661 |
| Material | EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 16 nat Nylon 12 |
| Condition | Conditioned |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Tensile Modulus | 900 MPa |
| Tensile Strength | 45 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 50 % |
| Charpy Impact Notched | 8 kJ/m² |
| Heat Deflection Temperature 0 45 Mpa | 120 °C |
| Water Absorption Equilibrium In Air | 1.5 % |
| Vicat Softening Temperature | 140 °C |
As an accredited EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 16 nat Nylon 12, Conditioned factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Packaged as 25 kg polyethylene-lined paper bags of natural-conditioned Grilamid L 16 nylon 12 granules, suitable for dry storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: one full 20-foot container of conditioned Grilamid L 16 nylon 12 pellets, palletized in sealed, moisture-protective packaging. |
| Shipping | EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 16 nat Nylon 12 (conditioned) ships as solid granules in sealed, moisture-proof bags or drums. Keep dry and avoid prolonged exposure to humidity. Transport at ambient temperature, away from direct sunlight and incompatible materials. Handle with standard industrial care; no special hazmat classification required for most routes. |
| Storage | Store Grilamid L 16 nat in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and strong oxidizers. Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption, which can affect performance. Avoid prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature extremes. Use clean, dry tools when handling to maintain material purity and quality. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically indefinite if stored in sealed original packaging, protected from moisture, heat, and UV exposure. |
In heavy commercial vehicle air brake circuits, line stock must survive pressure cycling from 0 to 1.0 MPa and maintain burst pressure exceeding four times the working pressure at ambient temperature while retaining low-temperature ductility at -40 °C. Unfilled PA12 supplied as Grilamid L 16 nat is processed into tubing that is often tested according to SAE J844 or ISO 7628-1, with cold impact and tensile elongation after heat ageing used as pass/fail criteria. The “conditioned” designation is an end-use equilibrium state under ISO 1110 at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity; in that state the PA12 matrix contains approximately 0.7 % moisture by mass, which lowers tensile modulus from the dry as-moulded range of 1,400 to 1,600 MPa toward 1,000 to 1,200 MPa and increases elongation at break beyond 250 % when measured according to ISO 527-2. Before extrusion, however, residual moisture in the granulate must be reduced to 0.15 % or less using a desiccant dryer operating at 80 °C for 4 to 6 h, with a hopper return-air dew point of -30 °C or lower. A single-screw extruder with 30:1 L/D and a barrier screw with mixing pins is typical for 12 mm outer diameter by 1.5 mm wall tube; barrel temperatures are profiled from 210 °C in the feed zone to 240 °C at the die adapter, and melt temperature is kept between 230 °C and 245 °C to avoid excessive viscosity loss while maintaining adequate melt strength. Vacuum calibration at 25 °C to 35 °C water temperature controls ovality, and puller speed is set to a draw-down ratio between 1.05:1 and 1.25:1. Post-extrusion conditioning at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity for 48 h to 72 h brings the finished tube close to the specified equilibrium moisture content before fitting installation, which is necessary because dry as-extruded PA12 exhibits lower elongation and greater notch sensitivity at sub-zero temperatures. Processors report that overdrying below 0.08 % moisture or excessive melt residence time above 5 min at 245 °C produces surface roughness and increases the rejection rate for wall-thickness variation.
| Requirement | Method | Line target |
|---|---|---|
| Granulate residual moisture | ISO 15512 | ≤ 0.15 % |
| Melt temperature at die | Infrared thermocouple | 230 °C–245 °C |
| Conditioned moisture content | ISO 1110 | 0.5 %–0.8 % |
| Cold impact | ISO 7628-1 / SAE J844 | No crack at -40 °C |
End-use terminal articles are coiled air brake tubing assemblies with connector retention features, frequently supplied in natural unpigmented form for OEM line builders that apply their own marking. The tubing is pressure-tested in production with compressed air at 1.5 MPa after fitting insertion and then coiled for bulk shipment; any wall-thickness oscillation introduced by improper vacuum calibration appears as intermittent pressure loss at the fitting interface.
Polyamide 12 industrial control line extrusion at 8 mm outer diameter and 1.0 mm wall on a 24:1 L/D single-screw line begins with granulate dried to 0.12 % moisture and a closed-loop hopper dryer dew point below -25 °C. The tube is intended for push-in pneumatic connectors operating at 0.8 MPa to 1.0 MPa in automated assembly cells, packaging machinery, and rail door actuation systems where ambient humidity swings between 10 % and 85 % relative humidity. The unfilled conditioned PA12 is selected because its saturated water uptake after immersion is approximately 1.5 %, which is lower than the 9 % to 10 % typical of PA6 and the 8 % to 9 % typical of PA66 at equilibrium; this limits dimensional growth in wet plant environments to a level that prevents push-in connector blow-off. The extrusion line uses a three-zone screw with a compression ratio of 2.8:1, a screen pack of 200/400/200 mesh, and a die temperature of 235 °C. Vacuum sizing is controlled at 28 °C water temperature, and the line speed for 8 mm OD tube is typically 50 to 70 m/min. After cutting, tubes are stored for 24 h at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity to achieve the conditioned state; this raises the elongation at break to approximately 250 % and reduces the risk of fracture during cold bending around a mandrel of 2× tube outer diameter at -20 °C. The terminal product is a semi-rigid control line with polyamide or nickel-plated brass push-in fittings; its burst strength is checked according to ISO 1402 at 23 °C and the pneumatic connection is validated under cyclic pressure from 0 to 1.0 MPa at 2 Hz for 1,000,000 cycles using ISO 14743 as the system-level reference. A critical processing boundary is melt filtration: unfilled PA12 with insufficient melt filtering below 50 µm can carry gels that create pinholes in thin wall; when this occurs, burst failures at the calibration sizing line appear as intermittent longitudinal splits.
Injection moulding of natural PA12 cable ties for heavy-equipment wire harnessing and rail interior installations requires a melt temperature of 230 °C to 250 °C and a mould wall temperature of 40 °C to 80 °C, with the lower end used for thin-walled tie sections and the upper end for thicker locking heads to reduce sink marks. The conditioned state of the polymer, defined by ISO 1110 at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity, is not a processing condition: pellets are dried to 0.10 % moisture before feeding, because moisture above 0.15 % causes surface splay and a reduction in tensile strength in the locking detent. The main processing conflict involves regrind: in an eight-cavity cold-runner tool with a gate diameter of 0.8 mm and a shot weight of 2.7 g, regrind ratios above 30 % are associated with a measurable reduction in melt viscosity and an increase in short shots at the tie tail, particularly when the regrind has passed through the barrel more than three times. The terminal article is a cable tie tested for tensile holding force according to IEC 62275, with conditioned specimens exhibiting greater loop tensile elongation at -20 °C than dry as-moulded parts, which matters during harness bundling and during service on vibrating equipment. Dimensional control is verified with a projection gauge at the tie tail and ratchet profile; the moisture-conditioned PA12 part undergoes a linear dimensional increase of roughly 0.1 % to 0.2 % after equilibrium, which is absorbed by the locking clearances. For outdoor applications, a UV-stabilized masterbatch is added at 2 % to 3 % because the natural grade does not contain sufficient UV stabilization for prolonged direct sunlight; exposure testing is performed under ISO 4892-2 for 500 h to 1,000 h depending on the specification. Processors report that shot-to-shot viscosity variation is minimized when the screw back pressure is kept at 3 to 5 MPa, decompression after plasticizing is limited to 2 mm to 4 mm, and the cushion is held between 2 mm and 4 mm.
In multi-layer diesel fuel vapour return conduits, unfilled PA12 is co-extruded as the outer layer over a low-permeation barrier such as EVOH or a fluoropolymer layer, where the PA12 layer provides low-temperature impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance on the engine side. The inner layer may be PA6 or an EVOH tie layer depending on the fuel blend; the PA12 outer layer is selected instead of polyolefin when the conduit must survive stone chips, hot surfaces, and contact with zinc chloride from road salt, because PA12 has substantially better stress-cracking resistance to zinc chloride than PA6. In processing, the PA12 outer layer is extruded at 235 °C to 245 °C through a spiral mandrel die, while the barrier layer is maintained at its own temperature window, often 210 °C to 230 °C for EVOH, to prevent viscosity mismatch at the interface. The line speed for 8 mm OD by 1 mm wall vapour return tube is typically 20 to 40 m/min, and vacuum calibration at 25 °C water is followed by post-extrusion conditioning at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity for 24 h. The conditioned PA12 state is relevant because the lower modulus after moisture uptake improves the fitting insertion force for barbed connectors, and the higher elongation prevents cracking when the tube is flexed during engine assembly. Terminal articles are smooth or corrugated vapour return conduits connected to quick connectors; burst and collapse resistance are checked according to ISO 1402 and SAE J2260 as applicable. Published permeation coefficients for the specific co-extruded layer stack are limited; validation is performed at the system level with evaporative emission measurements according to the vehicle manufacturer’s procedure.
Monofilament extrusion lines for PA12 technical mesh and paper machine clothing dry the conditioned granulate to 0.10 % moisture and melt it in a single-screw extruder with 25:1 L/D and a melt pump to stabilize throughput before a 0.6 mm to 1.8 mm diameter die. Melt temperature is held at 240 °C to 250 °C, and the extrudate enters a water quench bath at 20 °C to 35 °C; die swell is controlled by adjusting the air gap, with a gap of 10 mm to 20 mm used to prevent filament-break instability on start-up. The quenched monofilament is then drawn in a first hot-water stage at 80 °C to 90 °C with a draw ratio of 3.0:1 to 4.5:1, followed by a hot-air second draw at 120 °C to 130 °C with a ratio of 1.2:1 to 1.5:1. The conditioned state after end-use moisture uptake is not present during orientation; pellets are dried before extrusion, and the drawn filament is relaxed in a hot-air tunnel before winding. After 24 h immersion at 60 °C water, PA12 monofilament retains a higher fraction of its knot strength than PA6 monofilament, which is one reason it is specified for forming fabrics. Terminal products are spiral-wound mesh, filter belts, and transfer fabrics used in industrial dewatering operations; food-contact approval, if required, must be confirmed separately. Tensile properties are measured using ISO 2062 for yarns and monofilaments, and dimensional stability is checked after 15 min in air at 120 °C. The critical processing boundary is the total draw ratio: above 5.5:1, the natural unfilled PA12 filament becomes susceptible to fibrillation and breaks at the guide rollers; below 3.5:1, the final filament has insufficient tenacity and the fabric loses dimensional stability under tension. Published data for the exact die swell behaviour of this specific grade is limited, so start-up trials are run with a 10 mm to 20 mm air gap and a water-quench distance adjusted to the filament diameter.
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EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 16 nat Nylon 12, Conditioned is an unfilled, natural-colour polyamide 12 injection-moulding grade. The term “Conditioned” refers to test specimens equilibrated at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity according to ISO 291, or accelerated to moisture equilibrium using ISO 1110. Conditioning is not a melt-processing supply condition; it is a post-moulding test state. Moisture absorbed during conditioning plasticizes the amorphous phase, lowering tensile modulus and yield stress while increasing notched impact energy.
The material is based on a semi-crystalline polyamide 12 backbone with a repeating amide group separated by an eleven-carbon aliphatic segment. This structure produces a melting temperature of 176 °C by differential scanning calorimetry to ISO 11357-1/-3. Density is 1.01 g/cm³ by ISO 1183-1:2019. The dry-as-moulded and conditioned property set is summarised in the following matrix, with values drawn from the manufacturer’s published datasheet and subject to batch-specific variation.
| Property | Test method | Dry as moulded | Conditioned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density at 23 °C | ISO 1183-1 | 1.01 g/cm³ | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Equilibrium water absorption at 23 °C/50 % RH | ISO 62:2008 | — | 0.7–0.8 % |
| Tensile modulus of elasticity | ISO 527-1/-2:2012 | 1,500 MPa | 1,100 MPa |
| Yield stress | ISO 527-1/-2:2012 | 45 MPa | 39 MPa |
| Nominal strain at break | ISO 527-1/-2:2012 | >50 % | >50 % |
| Charpy notched impact strength at 23 °C | ISO 179-1/1eA | 5 kJ/m² | 10 kJ/m² |
| Melting temperature | ISO 11357-1/-3 | 176 °C | 176 °C |
| Heat deflection temperature at 1.8 MPa | ISO 75-1/-2 | 50 °C | 50 °C |
Equilibrium water absorption at immersion saturation is reported near 1.4 % by mass. The lower amide density of PA12 relative to PA6 and PA66 limits conditioning-induced modulus depression and reduces dimensional swelling at a given relative humidity. This is the primary technical basis for selecting PA12 in components exposed to ambient humidity cycles, fuel vapour, or mineral oil.
The solution viscosity number of Grilamid L 16 nat is 160 cm³/g when determined to ISO 307. This places the grade in the low-viscosity range for injection moulding of thin-wall sections. Melt processing should be conducted within a melt-temperature envelope of 220 °C to 250 °C and a mould-temperature envelope of 30 °C to 80 °C. Higher mould temperatures increase crystallinity and may reduce post-mould shrinkage, but they also add cycle time. A desiccant dryer set to 80 °C for 4–6 h is required after opening of packaging. Residual moisture before melting must remain below 0.10 % by mass because the amide linkage is susceptible to hydrolysis in the melt.
The hydrolysis reaction in molten PA12 proceeds through chain scission at amide groups. Above 100 °C, water above the 0.10 % threshold reacts with the backbone, causing irreversible viscosity loss. On injection-moulding lines, this appears as silver streaks, nozzle drooling, low weld-line strength, and batch-to-batch dimensional drift. If hopper residence exceeds 30 min under production-floor humidity above 60 % without closed-loop drying, reprocessing of conditioned pellets without drying should be stopped. Screw geometry for unfilled PA12 typically uses a general-purpose screw with L/D 20:1–25:1 and compression ratio 2.0:1–2.4:1. Shut-off nozzles are preferred because the low melt viscosity creates drooling at open nozzle tips. Back pressure below 10 bar is typical; higher settings may overwork the low-viscosity melt and increase shear heating.
Thin-wall flow behaviour is controlled by gate freeze-off and the fountain-flow frozen layer. The 160 cm³/g viscosity number permits high flow path-to-wall thickness ratios, but the semi-crystalline solidification interval is narrow, so gate geometry and gate velocity must stabilise the flow front. In unfilled natural PA12, anisotropic shrinkage is more apparent than in glass-filled equivalents. Mould shrinkage in the flow direction is approximately 0.8 %, with transverse shrinkage differences up to 0.2 percentage points depending on wall thickness and processing parameters. Production tooling trials are required because natural colour contains no particulate filler to reduce flow-direction anisotropy. Mould-temperature variation beyond ±5 °C across the cavity creates differential crystallization shrinkage and warpage; this is particularly visible in unfilled natural PA12 because no filler masks shrinkage anisotropy.
When natural unfilled colour is selected because carbon black cannot be tolerated, thermal oxidative service limits become more restrictive than in black PA12 grades. Carbon black functions as a UV stabiliser and as a thermal oxidative barrier. The natural grade should not be exposed to continuous outdoor weathering without additional UV stabilisation. Accelerated weathering to ISO 4892-2:2013 can be used for screening, but published data for this specific natural PA12 under long-term UV service is limited. Continuous air service above 80 °C should be evaluated by heat-ageing tensile impact and tensile strength retention testing rather than short-term thermal analysis.
The transition from dry-as-moulded to conditioned service is not instantaneous. Thin sections equilibrate more quickly than thick sections, creating transient moisture gradients that produce internally strained geometries. Dimensional change is governed by the equilibrium moisture content and the local wall thickness. A part with a section of 1 mm may approach equilibrium within days at 23 °C/50 % RH, whereas a 4 mm section may require significantly longer. Tolerance stacks must include a post-moulding moisture growth phase. This behaviour is especially relevant in natural unfilled PA12 because there is no filler to restrain swelling. Conditioning produces an increase in notched impact strength from approximately 5 kJ/m² to 10 kJ/m², but it also lowers the tensile modulus from 1,500 MPa to 1,100 MPa. Such changes must be the basis for load-bearing calculations, not the dry as-moulded values.
Where dimensional stability under humidity cycling is the controlling specification, PA12 outperforms PA6 and PA66 because of its lower amide-group density. PA6 absorbs approximately 2.5–2.8 % moisture at 23 °C/50 % RH and approximately 9.0–10.0 % at immersion saturation. PA66 behaves similarly. PA12 reaches 0.7–0.8 % at equilibrium humidity and 1.4 % at saturation. The relative modulus depression from dry to conditioned is therefore smaller. Design calculations that mix PA12 dimensions with PA6 conditioning curves will overstate dimensional change and creep under moisture.
| Parameter | Grilamid L 16 nat PA12 | PA6 unfilled | PA66 unfilled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density at 23 °C | 1.01 g/cm³ | 1.13 g/cm³ | 1.14 g/cm³ |
| Equilibrium moisture at 23 °C/50 % RH | 0.7–0.8 % | 2.5–2.8 % | 2.5–2.8 % |
| Immersion saturation | 1.4 % | 9.0–10.0 % | 8.0–9.0 % |
| Tensile modulus dry | 1,500 MPa | 3,000 MPa | 3,200 MPa |
| Tensile modulus conditioned | 1,100 MPa | 1,200 MPa | 1,300 MPa |
Replacement of PA6 or PA66 with Grilamid L 16 nat should be driven by moisture uptake, chemical resistance, density, or low-temperature impact, not by tensile strength. PA6 and PA66 offer higher dry tensile modulus and higher heat deflection temperature, but they absorb more moisture and exhibit larger property swings. PA12 has a density of 1.01 g/cm³, compared with approximately 1.13 g/cm³ for PA6 and 1.14 g/cm³ for PA66. For the same component volume, PA12 reduces mass. If the component operates in contact with diesel, mineral oil, brake fluid, or fuel vapour, the longer aliphatic segments of PA12 provide greater resistance to polar solvent attack. This does not eliminate the need for immersion testing at article geometry; published data for all fuel blends and service temperatures is limited.
Compared with higher-viscosity PA12 grades, the 160 cm³/g viscosity number of Grilamid L 16 nat prioritises injection moulding economy and thin-wall fill. It is less suitable for profile extrusion, blow moulding, or thick-section extrusion where melt strength and die swell are needed. Higher-viscosity PA12 grades provide greater melt stability for those processes. Compared with glass-filled polyamide 12, the unfilled natural grade has lower tensile modulus, lower heat deflection temperature, and higher elongation at break. Glass-filled PA12 can reach tensile modulus values in the range of 2,000–6,000 MPa depending on glass content, while unfilled conditioned PA12 is approximately 1,100 MPa. The unfilled grade is selected when ductility and a natural unpigmented appearance are required.
In cable sheathing and fluid-handling components, the material is processed with low-viscosity fill patterns. In pneumatic tubing, PA12 is used in truck air-brake lines and compressed-air conduits. Article-level standards such as SAE J844 for nylon air-brake tubing may apply, but qualification requires the final wall thickness, thermal cycling, and fluid exposure. PA12 retains resilience at low temperatures because its glass-transition temperature is below 0 °C. Impact testing at −30 °C is commonly performed to ISO 179-1/1eA, and PA12 retains a higher fraction of room-temperature impact strength than PA6 or PA66 at the same temperature. Moisture-conditioned specimens should be stabilised for at least 24 h after machining before testing to avoid transient moisture gradients.
Supplier datasheet compliance does not constitute finished-article regulatory compliance. Food-contact and medical applications require article-level migration or biological evaluation. Under EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, overall migration testing is performed on the finished article using prescribed food simulants and time-temperature conditions. Under FDA 21 CFR 177.1500, nylon resins are addressed within the broader regulatory framework, but extraction testing and additive compliance control the final determination. For medical devices, ISO 10993-1 biological evaluation is required, with testing performed on the final sterilised article because absorbed moisture and sterilisation method can affect extractables. Natural PA12 contains no carbon black, but colour-neutral formulations may still contain processing stabilisers, lubricants, or other additives. The exact additive composition must be declared by the supplier for regulatory review.
Use in compressed-air tubing, brake-system conduits, cable sheathing, and fluid-handling components should be qualified against the relevant article-level specifications. The conditioned state is relevant to installed performance because ambient humidity exposure produces the same plasticization effect as laboratory conditioning. At sub-zero temperatures, PA12 retains impact energy because of its low glass-transition temperature and flexible aliphatic segments. Long-term resistance to pressurised water above 60 °C should be evaluated using pressure-test rigs because published data for this specific unfilled natural grade under hydrolytic ageing is limited. Tensile-strength retention at 1,000 h intervals can be measured to ISO 527-1/-2 to establish the degradation rate.
Processing stabilisation must be validated on production tooling, not laboratory plaque moulds, because shear history, gate-induced orientation, and cooling rate create different crystallinity distributions. Conditioning before mechanical testing should follow the same protocol as the application qualification. If the article reaches moisture equilibrium in service, only conditioned values should be used for impact, tensile, and dimensional calculations. The dry as-moulded values serve as moulding benchmarks and incoming-material checks, not as service performance values.
