| HS Code | 730534 |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Water Absorption 24h | 0.7% |
| Tensile Strength At Yield | 45 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | >300% |
| Flexural Modulus | 700 MPa |
| Notched Impact Strength 23 C | No break |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature 1 8 Mpa | 50 °C |
| Vicat Softening Temperature B50 | 140 °C |
| Volume Resistivity | 1e12 Ω·cm |
| Dielectric Strength | 30 kV/mm |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.23 W/m·K |
As an accredited EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC Nylon 12, Dry factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Packaged in 25 kg sealed, moisture-proof bags to preserve dryness, with clear labeling of product name and batch identification. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL of EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC Nylon 12, Dry, packed in 25kg bags on pallets, loaded securely. |
| Shipping | EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC Nylon 12 (dry) ships in sealed, moisture-barrier packaging to prevent humidity absorption. Transport at ambient temperature, avoiding excessive heat or impact. Standard freight is suitable as the material is non-hazardous. Ensure dry storage upon arrival; handle with clean, dry equipment to preserve performance. |
| Storage | Store EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC Nylon 12 in its original, unopened container in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Keep tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption, as the material is supplied dry. Avoid direct sunlight, high humidity, and temperatures above 30°C. Under proper conditions, shelf life is at least two years. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is indefinite when stored dry in original sealed containers, protected from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. |
An injection-molded SAE J2044-compliant quick connector produced from EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC is transferred from a desiccant-bed dryer that maintains a return-air dew point of −30 °C or lower and a hopper residence time of 4–6 h at 80–85 °C. The granulate is considered dry enough for processing only when residual moisture, determined by ISO 15512, is below 0.10 wt%; above this threshold, moisture-induced hydrolysis at melt temperature reduces molecular weight and produces surface splay, while also shifting the measured surface resistance of the molded part because conductive carbon-black networks in PA12 are sensitive to volatile by-products and porosity. The connector body is molded on a hydraulic press in the 80–120 t clamp range with a three-zone screw of 20:1 L/D and 2.2:1 compression ratio; barrel zones are typically profiled from 250 °C at the feed section to 270 °C at the nozzle, with a hot-runner manifold held near 265 °C. Cavity wall temperature is maintained at 70–90 °C because weld lines generated by the pin-forming slides do not reliably heal in conductive PA12 when the mold surface is too cold, leaving a locally higher surface resistance that cannot be corrected by post-molding annealing. For fuel-system connectivity, surface resistance is measured according to IEC 61340-2-3 at 100 V DC after 48 h conditioning at 23 °C and 50% RH; production monitoring typically requires values below 106 Ω across the gate area, the weld line, and the retention barb. The reason for this ceiling is that liquid fuel flow through the joined line can generate electrostatic charge at the inner wall; a connector that fails to dissipate this charge can discharge to adjacent metallic brackets or retainer clips during refueling or service. Dimensional acceptance of the barb geometry is performed on a vision system because unfilled PA12 exhibits flow-direction shrinkage after moisture equilibration, and a reduction in barb interference directly lowers the retention force required by the vehicle assembly specification.
Semiconductor back-end handling trays and chip carriers molded from conductive PA12 are specified for static-dissipative performance under ANSI/ESD S20.20 and IEC 61340-5-1, but the result is highly dependent on wall thickness and gate location. In carriers with ribs of 1.5–2.0 mm, the polymer freezes rapidly, and the carbon-black conductive network may be undermined by filler orientation near the skin; therefore surface resistance measured by IEC 61340-2-3 at 100 V DC is mapped across the tray, not assumed homogeneous. ESD-control practice under ANSI/ESD S20.20 requires the material to meet the user's process-specific requirement, frequently 104–106 Ω for handling tools inside an EPA; static-dissipative materials are not identical to conductive packaging materials, and a single universal resistance limit does not apply across all equipment categories. Molders therefore set the cavity wall at 70–80 °C and gate the part from the thickest rib rather than a thin side wall to reduce the number of low-conductivity weld lines. Because PA12 shows lower moisture uptake than PA6 or PA66, the carrier's electrical performance is less sensitive to high-humidity storage than ESD materials based on hydrophilic nylons; nevertheless, incoming quality control should measure resistance after conditioning at 23 °C and 50% RH, because as-molded dry parts can give misleading low resistance from residual carbon-black orientation. Carbon-loaded PA12 carriers are also checked for particle shedding and ionic contamination before use in cleanrooms; published data for this specific grade under SEMI cleanroom protocols is limited, and qualification is usually performed on the finished tray rather than on raw granulate.
Because the same grade contains a percolated carbon-black network, ultrasonic welding of fuel filter housings demands different process limits than for neat PA12. Fuel filter housings made from L 20 EC are used where static charge generated by fuel flow through the pleated filter medium must be dissipated to the mounting bracket; the housing wall thickness is commonly 2.5–4.0 mm to retain burst-strength margins. The welding operation is preferred with ultrasonic or vibration techniques because carbon black absorbs near-infrared radiation, making laser-transmission welding unreliable for this grade unless a specially formulated clear partner material and a validated process window are used. In ultrasonic welding, the energy director is reduced in height relative to unfilled PA12 because carbon-filled melt has higher stiffness and can generate excessive flash at the joint; the amplitude and downspeed are adjusted so that the glass transition of the dry matrix is not exceeded in the shear zone, and a continuous weld seam is obtained without producing loose carbon-rich particles. The housing must withstand the OEM's hydraulic burst and thermal cycling test; although published data for this specific grade under fuel C and fuel M exposure is limited, the material is normally qualified for service in gasoline and diesel environments only after component-level validation because carbon-black-filled PA12 can show surface microcracking when exposed to highly oxygenated fuel blends over several thousand hours. The metallic insert used for mounting is placed with a minimum boss wall of 2.0 mm and a radius at the base to reduce stress concentration during thermal expansion; without this radius, differential expansion between the PA12 boss and the metal insert is a field failure mode.
Non-electrical equipment intended for use in explosive dust atmospheres is assessed in Europe under Directive 2014/34/EU using EN ISO 80079-36:2016 and EN IEC 60079-0:2018; the resin supplier's material data does not replace equipment-level certification. For a coupling half injection-molded from conductive PA12, the electrostatic hazard is evaluated with IEC TS 60079-32-1; non-conductive surfaces with resistance above 109 Ω can retain charge, while a molded component with surface resistance below 106 Ω is generally suitable for charge dissipation when a defined path to earth is maintained. However, the contact resistance between the plastic flange and the mating metal pipe must not be neglected: an oxide layer or dust film can create a path resistance that defeats the beneficial bulk conductivity of the PA12. In practice, the molded coupling is designed with a through metal insert or earthing tab that provides a permanent low-resistance connection; the insert is placed with sufficient interference so that thermal cycling does not create a gap from differential expansion. Thick-section coupling bodies in the 6–10 mm wall range require a mold temperature near 80 °C and a gate located away from the sealing face to prevent a weld line from intersecting the seal groove. Surface temperature class for dust atmospheres is determined by the equipment documentation; unfilled PA12 has an ISO 75-1/-2 HDT/A value in the 50–55 °C range, so external mechanical loads must be carried by incorporated metal inserts or the mating geometry rather than relying on the polymer at elevated service temperature. The part is not self-certifying; the complete assembly, including the conductive path and potential igniting sources, must be assessed by a notified body under ATEX.
Gas-meter internal components and pocket housings made from conductive PA12 are selected because flowing natural gas, especially with suspended dust and moisture droplets, can generate charge on polymer surfaces; a housing wall with controlled surface resistance provides a charge drain path that is stable under the low-temperature conditions found in distribution networks. The material's lower moisture absorption relative to PA6 or PA66, with equilibrium moisture at 23 °C and 50% RH on the order of 0.7 wt% by ISO 62 for unfilled PA12, reduces dimensional drift in the sensor pocket and helps maintain the air gap between the pulse-sensing element and the diaphragm magnet. The pocket is usually molded with a wall thickness of 2.0–3.0 mm and must not show sink over the seal boss; molders hold packing pressure until the gate freezes and use a mold temperature of 70–80 °C to minimize post-mold shrinkage. Because the component sits inside a potentially flammable gas atmosphere, the surface resistance after assembly is tested according to IEC 61340-2-3 at 100 V DC, and readings are taken not only on flat surfaces but also on the internal thread root where carbon-black orientation can be lower. If the part is machined after molding, the machined surface removes the polymer-rich skin and can expose the conductive core; in some cases this lowers resistance, but it can also create loose carbon dust that must be removed before gas-meter final assembly. The pocket material is not a substitute for a gas-tight barrier; leakage is controlled by the housing design and seal material, while the PA12 provides dimensional stability and electrostatic dissipation.
A three-plate cold-runner mold used for ESD housing covers exposes L 20 EC to longer flow lengths and multiple weld lines; the surface-resistance map across the cover follows the filling pattern. ESD housing covers for explosion-protected electronic devices, such as gas detectors or field indicators, are molded with wall stocks from 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm and often contain snap-fit undercuts, display windows, and flame arrestor ribs. The carbon-black network in conductive PA12 is not indifferent to these flow features: a weld line formed by the flow around a large core may show local surface resistance 1–3 orders of magnitude higher than the gate region, and this difference is measurable with a two-point probe under IEC 61340-2-3 rather than with a single end-to-end reading. To manage this, the mold is gated at the central boss or along the rear face so that the weld line is pushed into a non-critical field zone, and the fill time is kept below 1.4 s for 2.5 mm nominal wall to avoid premature freeze-off at the flow front. The press barrel is purged with polyethylene or a commercial purging compound when switching from unfilled PA12, because residual carbon-black concentrate can remain in the check ring and produce unspecified resistance in the next run. Snap-fit geometry is designed with a maximum strain below the material's flexural limit, and assembly trials include repeated insertion cycles at −20 °C to verify that low-temperature embrittlement does not crack the conductive network. After molding, covers are not annealed above 90 °C in circulating air unless the process has been validated, because oxidative aging at the surface can increase surface resistance in carbon-filled nylons.
Thermal damage during melt processing is a critical boundary for Grilamid L 20 EC because the carbon-black network that provides static dissipation can be over-sheared and oxidatively degraded. The melt temperature at the nozzle is controlled at 250–270 °C; when the set point exceeds 280 °C for more than a few minutes, thermal degradation of the PA12 backbone can produce low-molecular-weight volatiles that plate the mold surface and disrupt the surface resistivity reading. Volume resistivity is measured on 60 × 60 × 2 mm plaques according to IEC 62631-3-1 or the older IEC 60093 method; production checks may use a concentric-ring electrode at 100 V DC and a specified electrification time, because carbon-filled polymers show time-dependent charge transport. The following control window is applied on injection lines processing static-dissipative parts.
| Parameter | Control window | Reference method / equipment | Observed consequence outside window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying | 80–85 °C, 4–6 h, dew point ≤ −30 °C | Desiccant-bed dryer; ISO 15512 | Residual moisture above 0.10 wt% causes hydrolysis and surface splay; surface resistance drifts |
| Melt temperature | 250–270 °C | Thermocouple at nozzle | Low melt temperature limits carbon dispersion; above 280 °C forms volatiles and degrades network |
| Mold temperature | 70–90 °C | Mold thermocouple / water manifold | Below 60 °C freezes weld lines before network formation, raising local surface resistance |
| Hot runner | 260–270 °C | Hot-runner controller | Cold gate increases shear and disrupts conductive filler orientation at gate |
| Fill time | 0.8–1.5 s for 2–3 mm wall | Flow simulation / position sensor | Overlong fill freezes flow front, producing high resistance at end of fill |
| Back pressure | 30–70 bar hydraulic | Press control | Low back pressure creates non-uniform filler distribution; excessive back pressure degrades network by over-shear |
| Screw L/D | 20:1–25:1 | Three-zone general-purpose screw | Low L/D can leave unmelted pellets; high L/D increases residence time and thermal degradation risk |
Post-mold handling must avoid stacking parts while their surface temperature is above the glass-transition range; carbon-filled PA12 parts can stick or imprint, and the damaged surface can create a high-resistance skin. Parts stored in open containers at relative humidity above 60% absorb moisture, but the effect on surface resistivity may be masked; therefore dry-as-molded data are not considered final. The specified resistance test is repeated after conditioning to 23 °C and 50% RH for 48 h. If the resistance value exceeds 106 Ω at the end of flow, the gate location and melt temperature are adjusted before mold modifications are approved. Because the grade is unfilled and conductive, mechanical loads that require higher stiffness should be transferred to a reinforced alternative only after verifying that the glass-fiber-free part is necessary for fuel or explosion-protected compliance.
Competitive EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC Nylon 12, Dry prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8615365186327 or mail to admin@ascent-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8615365186327
Email: admin@ascent-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 EC Nylon 12, Dry is a plasticized polyamide 12 supplied in moisture-barrier packaging and qualified with a maximum residual moisture of ≤0.10 wt%. The dry condition is the reference state for the mechanical property values reported under ISO 527-1/-2, ISO 178, and ISO 179-1/1eA. In this condition the material displays a tensile modulus below that of unmodified PA12 while retaining the low equilibrium moisture uptake, low density, and aliphatic hydrocarbon resistance of the PA12 backbone. The product is used in tube and hose profiles, cable sheathing, flexible connectors, and snap-fit components where sub-zero ductility and dimensional stability in humid environments are specified. The L 20 EC product code is supplier-specific; users should refer to the EMS-Grivory material datasheet for the formal ISO 1874-1 designation and filler content.
At the molecular level, PA12 contains a longer aliphatic segment between amide functionalities than PA6 or PA66. This reduces amide-group density, which lowers melt temperature, dry density, and equilibrium water absorption. The dry density of the EC grade is near 1.02 g/cm³ by ISO 1183-1, whereas dry PA6 and PA66 are approximately 1.13–1.14 g/cm³. Saturation water uptake under ISO 62 is approximately 1.4 wt% for PA12 and plasticized PA12, compared with 9–10 wt% for PA6 and 8–9 wt% for PA66. Lower moisture uptake reduces the equilibrium dimensional change and the loss of modulus in humid service, but it does not eliminate the need for conditioning when tight tolerances are specified.
The more immediate property difference is between L 20 EC and unmodified PA12 extrusion grades. The EC composition lowers tensile modulus into the 350–450 MPa range under ISO 527-1/-2, while unmodified PA12 dry tensile modulus is typically 1,300–1,600 MPa. Nominal strain at break exceeds 50% for the plasticized grade, and the material retains ductile behaviour at low temperatures. This shift is obtained by internal plasticization, not by surface lubrication. The consequence is a measurable reduction in hardness, creep modulus, and upper use temperature; the product is not a direct drop-in for unmodified PA12 when stiffness or heat deflection resistance dominates the part specification.
| Parameter | Grilamid L 20 EC dry | Unmodified PA12 dry | PA6 dry | PA66 dry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density, ISO 1183-1 | 1.01–1.02 g/cm³ | 1.01–1.02 g/cm³ | 1.13–1.14 g/cm³ | 1.13–1.14 g/cm³ |
| Saturation water uptake, ISO 62 | 1.3–1.5 wt% | 1.3–1.5 wt% | 9–10 wt% | 8–9 wt% |
| Melting peak, ISO 11357-3 | 172–178°C | 172–178°C | 220–225°C | 255–265°C |
| Tensile modulus, ISO 527-1/-2 | 350–450 MPa | 1,300–1,600 MPa | 2,800–3,200 MPa | 2,900–3,200 MPa |
Drying and material handling require closed-loop desiccant drying rather than hot-air ovens when ambient relative humidity exceeds 60% RH or when regrind is introduced. The product is supplied dry, but an opened bag adsorbs moisture until equilibrium with ambient air. For PA12, a desiccant dryer with a return-air dew point of -20°C or lower, a setpoint of 80°C, and a residence time of 4–12 h is sufficient to bring surface and core moisture below 0.10 wt%. Over-drying above 90°C can produce oxidative yellowing and should be avoided. Desiccant bed regeneration must be verified by dew-point measurement, not by hopper temperature alone. When regrind from post-industrial skeletons is used at any proportion, drying time should be increased because regrind presents higher surface area and variable residence-time distribution in the hopper.
On production-scale single-screw extruders with L/D 24:1 to 30:1 and compression ratios of 2.2:1 to 2.8:1, the primary processing limit is melt-temperature overshoot at the transition zone. The plasticized EC grade has lower shear viscosity than unmodified PA12, so viscous heating is lower; however, a worn screw, a restrictive screen pack, or an undersized breaker plate can create local hot spots above 270°C. Surface pitting, black specks, and melt-pressure drift at the breaker plate indicate resin degradation or screen blinding. Barrel temperature profiles are typically ramped from 210°C in the feed zone to 240–250°C in metering; die temperature is held close to the metering zone to avoid abrupt cooling at the die land. Melt pressure should be recorded for each die geometry rather than assumed from generalized values.
In injection molding of connectors, clips, and fasteners, mold temperatures from 30°C to 60°C are typical. Melt temperatures above 260°C shorten allowable residence time and increase the risk of splay and gate-stringing. Because the EC grade has lower modulus than unmodified PA12, demolding forces are lower, but shrinkage anisotropy may increase with flow direction. Mold shrinkage for unreinforced PA12 generally lies in the 0.7–1.2% range depending on wall thickness, gate location, and melt orientation. Pack pressure is set to avoid sink marks without overpacking thin sections; thick sections extend cooling time and increase differential shrinkage. Clamp force requirements are generally lower than for PA66 at equivalent shot mass because of the lower packing pressure and lower viscosity, but final part design must compensate for reduced stiffness through ribbing rather than excessive wall thickness.
Polyamide 12 is less hygroscopic than PA6 or PA66, but it is not hydrolytically inert. Moisture at the melt stage attacks amide linkages, reducing molecular weight and increasing melt volume-flow rate under ISO 1133-1. At moisture contents of 0.10–0.20 wt%, extrusion of this plasticized compound may produce silver streaks, frothy melt, and dimensional variation in downstream calibration. Above 0.20 wt%, hydrolytic chain scission can lower tensile elongation at break below the dry-state specification, particularly in thin-wall profiles where residence time in the melt is extended. The failure mode is not always visible; internal voids and reduced notched impact strength can appear before surface splay.
Dew-point monitoring is more informative than hopper temperature alone. A desiccant dryer with a return-air dew point of -20°C or lower provides adequate driving force for moisture removal. The hopper outlet should be checked with an inline moisture analyzer or by Karl Fischer titration of a sealed sample. If the material has been exposed overnight at 50% RH or higher, drying should be repeated before melt processing. For applications requiring tight dimensional tolerance, shrinkage compensation should be determined after conditioning at 50% RH, because moisture uptake relaxes residual stress and changes part thickness.
In cable sheathing and pneumatic tube extrusion, the material is selected where the combination of low-temperature flexibility and aliphatic hydrocarbon resistance is required. PA12 as a family exhibits lower equilibrium moisture uptake than PA6 or PA66, which reduces dimensional growth in humid service. The EC grade lowers bending modulus relative to unmodified PA12, allowing a smaller bend radius and reducing snap-fit strain whitening. Dry tensile modulus near 400 MPa under ISO 527-1/-2 permits deformation recovery in flexible closures, but cyclic fatigue and creep should be evaluated separately under ISO 178 and ISO 899-1 because plasticization reduces creep modulus.
The general-purpose EC grade is not flame retardant and is not a low-permeation automotive fuel grade by itself. Published data for this specific configuration under automotive permeation schedules is limited; qualification must be performed on the finished tube or hose construction under SAE J2260 or equivalent method. The plasticized composition can be attacked by strong acids, oxidizing media, ketones, and chlorinated solvents. Continuous exposure to such fluids can extract the plasticizer or attack the polyamide backbone. Specific chemical compatibility should be confirmed by immersion testing under ISO 175 at the service temperature and applied stress. For direct contact with potable water or food, migration testing under the applicable national regulation is required.
PA12 is often specified for parts exposed to zinc chloride solutions and winter road de-icing salts because unmodified high-impact PA6 and PA66 can exhibit brittle cracking under tensile stress in the presence of zinc chloride. The longer aliphatic segment and lower amide density of PA12 reduce susceptibility to this specific stress-cracking mechanism. However, L 20 EC is a plasticized grade, so stress-cracking response must be evaluated with the actual service fluid and applied strain. Immersion testing under ISO 175 with fixed-strain fixtures provides more relevant ranking than simple unloaded coupons.
For regulatory verification, the base resin may be stated to meet the substance restrictions of EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU Annex II and the SVHC disclosure requirements of REACH Regulation 1907/2006 at the 0.1 wt% threshold. These statements apply to the base resin as supplied and do not transfer automatically to a converted article. Food-contact and medical applications require grade-specific confirmation; general-purpose L 20 EC is not automatically suitable under EU 10/2011 or USP Class VI. The end user is responsible for migration testing, sterilization validation, and any regional compliance documentation.
