| HS Code | 322771 |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 50 °C |
| Tensile Modulus | 1600 MPa |
| Tensile Stress At Yield | 50 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | >50 % |
| Charpy Impact Strength 23 C | No break |
| Charpy Impact Strength Notched 23 C | 5 kJ/m² |
| Charpy Impact Strength Notched 30 C | 4 kJ/m² |
| Ball Indentation Hardness | 75 MPa |
| Heat Deflection Temperature A 1 80 Mpa | 50 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature B 0 45 Mpa | 120 °C |
| Water Absorption Saturation 23 C | 1.5 % |
| Moisture Absorption 23 C 50 Rh | 0.7 % |
| Melt Volume Flow Rate 275 C 5 Kg | 80 cm³/10 min |
| Linear Mold Shrinkage | 0.3-0.8 % |
As an accredited EMS-Grivory Grilamid® L 20 L PA12 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | EMS-Grivory Grilamid® L 20 L PA12 is supplied as dry, free-flowing granules in 25 kg sealed, moisture-resistant bags. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loading of Grilamid® L 20 L PA12: packed in sealed bags on pallets, stowed dry, ventilated, and secured against moisture/contamination. |
| Shipping | Grilamid® L 20 L PA12 is shipped as non-hazardous polymer pellets in sealed, moisture-proof bags or drums to prevent water absorption. Keep packaging dry and protected from direct sunlight. Standard truck or container transport is suitable, with no special temperature controls required. Handle gently to avoid bag damage. |
| Storage | Store Grilamid® L 20 L PA12 in its original, unopened packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat (below 50°C/122°F). Keep containers tightly sealed when not in use to prevent humidity absorption, which can affect processing. Avoid contact with strong oxidizers. Follow Safe Handling data. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically indefinite when stored dry, sealed, and protected from light, heat, and moisture. |
Compressed air brake tubing is converted on a single-screw extruder fitted with a barrier screw and a static mixing head at 25:1 to 30:1 L/D. Before extrusion, Grilamid L 20 L pellets are dried at 80°C for 4 h to 6 h until moisture is below 0.10% by ISO 15512:2016 Karl Fischer titration. Barrel temperature profile from feed to metering section is set at 210°C, 220°C, 225°C, 230°C, and 230°C at the adapter and die. Vacuum sizing at 0.6 bar to 0.9 bar controls outside diameter, while a two-stage water bath at 20°C and 40°C fixes the tube geometry before haul-off. Puller speed is set to produce a draw ratio of 1.05 to 1.15. A 12 mm OD × 9 mm ID tube for heavy trucks is measured with an in-line three-axis laser gauge; outside diameter is held to ±0.10 mm and wall thickness is held to ±0.05 mm. The finished product is coiled to 50 m or 100 m lengths and then annealed at 80°C for 2 h to release orientation stresses before fitting assembly.
Compliance is verified through SAE J844, ISO 7628-2, and OEM-specific thermal ageing. The tube is conditioned at 23°C and 50% relative humidity for 48 h per ISO 291, then burst tested at 23°C and after 100°C air ageing. Low-temperature impact is performed at −40°C by a falling-weight impact fixture with a 2 kg striker; the pass criterion is no longitudinal split or fragmentation. Zinc chloride stress-crack resistance is checked under ISO 7628-2 because road de-icing salt liquors concentrate in wheel arch areas. The final air brake line assembly uses push-to-connect fittings with tube support inserts; pull-out force is verified after 1 × 105 pressure cycles between 0 bar and 10 bar at 60°C. Published grade-specific values for Grilamid L 20 L in this configuration are limited, so production depends on converter-run trials and lot-level extrusion records.
| Control point | Method | Production limit |
|---|---|---|
| Pellet moisture | ISO 15512:2016 | 0.10% maximum |
| Melt volume-flow rate | ISO 1133-1:2022 | Batch nominal ± 10% |
| Low-temperature impact | ISO 7628-2 | −40°C no split |
| Zinc chloride stress-crack | ISO 7628-2 | OEM exposure without visible cracks |
| Burst pressure retention | SAE J844 | 3× rated working pressure at 23°C |
In offshore flexible pipe pressure sheaths, the PA12 layer is extruded over an interlocked steel carcass in wall thicknesses that commonly exceed 8 mm. The line employs a 90 mm single-screw extruder with 28:1 L/D and a melt pump to suppress pressure surges. Gear-pump inlet pressure is maintained between 50 bar and 120 bar, and die temperature is held at 230°C. Because thick-wall PA12 sections retain heat, cooling is staged with water spray set points of 90°C, 70°C, 50°C, and 30°C to limit void formation. Under API Spec 17J / ISO 13628-2, the polymer pressure sheath is qualified by rapid gas decompression testing after saturation with CO2 and CH4 partial pressures, by tensile testing after ageing in seawater at 60°C for OEM-defined durations, and by burst-pressure verification after spooling simulation at −20°C. The terminal product is the internal pressure sheath inside an unbonded flexible riser or flowline.
Moisture control is more severe than in thin-wall extrusion. Pellets are dried to 0.08% maximum moisture and conveyed under dried-air purge at −30°C dew point. Barrel residence time is kept below 20 min at 250°C because PA12 degrades through chain cleavage when oxygen is not excluded; melt-pressure fluctuation exceeding ±5% at the gear pump indicates poor homogenization or feed inconsistency. Water absorption in PA12 is below 1.0% at 23°C and 50% RH per ISO 62, which reduces hydrolytic degradation compared with PA6, but seawater ageing at design temperature still requires offshore-specific stabilizer packages. Published data for Grilamid L 20 L in this exact configuration is limited, so qualification campaigns use grade-specific mechanical and chemical ageing results generated by the pipe manufacturer.
In pneumatic automation lines, PA12 tubing is drawn through a closed-loop vacuum calibration system with diameter gauges placed every 300 mm along the cooling trough. Outside diameters from 4 mm to 12 mm are controlled within ±0.05 mm, and wall thickness variation is held below 0.03 mm on a 6 mm OD × 4 mm ID tube. The material retains dimensional stability after moisture conditioning at 23°C and 50% RH for 24 h per ISO 291; the diameter change is measured with a 0.001 mm resolution laser micrometer. Tube is cut to 100 m coils and tested for retention force when assembled into ISO 14743 conforming push-in fittings.
Continuous operating temperature is limited by fitting retention, not by oxidative embrittlement. At 80°C, the working pressure is derated below the 10 bar rating at 23°C; the exact derating curve is set by the fitting manufacturer under ISO 14743. Burst pressure at 23°C is verified at 30 bar for 6 mm OD × 4 mm ID tube. Pressure impulse testing is performed between 0 bar and 10 bar for 1 × 106 cycles at 40°C; leakage or pull-out is not permitted. Low-temperature drop-weight impact at −30°C is checked per ISO 7628-2 because pneumatic lines in cold storage and outdoor automation must not split during routing. The terminal application includes semiconductor tooling actuators, packaging machinery, and food-processing valve banks, where the clean, low-moisture PA12 surface reduces particle generation relative to plasticized PVC.
When optical loose tubes are jacketed as outside plant cables, a PA12 outer sheath is extruded over a gel-filled PBT loose tube core. The core diameter is between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm, and the PA12 jacket wall is 0.50 mm to 0.80 mm thick. A pressure-type die with a draw-down ratio of 1.10 to 1.30 minimizes molecular orientation. After the first water bath at 20°C, the cable passes through a second annealing trough at 40°C and is wound onto drums with 500 mm diameter under controlled tension below 2 N/mm2. The target longitudinal shrinkage is below 1.0% after 24 h at 23°C, because higher shrinkage causes fibre attenuation at −40°C during thermal cycling.
Mechanical compliance is verified under IEC 60794-1-2 test methods: cyclic temperature range from −40°C to 70°C, crush resistance, and repeated bending. Tensile and elongation of the sheath material are measured per IEC 60811-501; low-temperature elongation is retained at −40°C due to PA12’s flexible chain structure. The cable construction is halogen-free because the PA12 outer sheath contains no PVC or fluoropolymer; flame performance is evaluated as a complete cable assembly under IEC 60332-1-2. The PA12 surface resists cracking when exposed to UV and road de-icing salts, but a 2.0% carbon black masterbatch is metered into the sheath compound for outdoor installations. The terminal product is a UV-stabilized, gel-free outer sheath for direct-buried and ducted outside plant fibre optic cables.
Fuel line clips and cable fasteners are injection-moulded from Grilamid L 20 L in tools with 16 to 64 cavities. Barrel temperatures are set at 220°C at the feed, 235°C in the compression zone, and 245°C at the nozzle. The mould is maintained at 60°C to 80°C using a water manifold, and clamp force is calculated at 3 kN/cm² projected area to prevent flash in thin-wall sections of 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm. Screw back pressure is held at 5 bar to 10 bar hydraulic pressure to homogenize the melt without excessive shear heating. Injection speed is profiled to avoid jetting in the pin-gated clip geometry. Part weight is monitored by an in-line weighing cell for 500 consecutive shots, and weight variation outside ±0.15% triggers a hold-pressure correction.
Mechanical validation for automotive clips uses ISO 527-2 tensile bars, ISO 179-1/1eA notched Charpy at −30°C, and ISO 75-2/B heat deflection temperature. Fuel system clips are immersed in Fuel C at 60°C for 500 h; clamp load retention must remain above the OEM-defined minimum because PA12 absorbs less hydrocarbon than PA6. Weld line strength is the dominant design constraint. In a double-gated test plaque, tensile strength at the weld line is compared with the un-welded reference per ISO 527-2; if the weld line retention ratio falls below 70%, the gate position is revised or the melt temperature is raised to 250°C. Published data for Grilamid L 20 L under Fuel C immersion is limited, so production approval is released only after OEM-specific immersion and thermal-shock testing. The terminal parts are used in commercial vehicle fuel line routing and electrical harness fasteners.
Because chemical distribution lines freeze and become brittle without low-temperature impact retention, PA12 tubing is used for low-pressure solvent transfer in printing and analytical equipment. The tube is extruded in sizes from 4 mm to 10 mm OD and vacuum-sized in a 0.5% surfactant bath at 20°C. Drying to 0.08% moisture per ISO 15512:2016 is followed by extrusion at melt temperature 220°C to 235°C. The extruded tube is annealed at 80°C for 1 h to stabilize crystallinity and cut to 50 m coils.
Tensile strength and elongation at break are measured per ISO 527-2 after immersion in iso-octane, toluene, ethanol, and 50% sulfuric acid for 168 h at 23°C. Because PA12 plasticizes in polar organic solvents, the working pressure is derated to 50% of the dry rating when the line carries ethanol-blended fluids above 40°C. The tube must pass a bend test at −40°C over a mandrel of 5× outside diameter without cracking. Zinc chloride stress-crack resistance is tested per ISO 7628-2 where road salt exposure is possible. The terminal product is used in ink supply lines, water treatment dosing skids, and low-pressure solvent transfer in printing equipment. Published data for Grilamid L 20 L in these aggressive fluid combinations is limited; converter-level qualification is mandatory.
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EMS-Grivory Grilamid® L 20 L PA12 is an unreinforced, medium-viscosity polyamide 12 based on laurolactam polymerization. The material is supplied as cylindrical pellets in natural or pre-colored formulations and is intended for injection molding and profile extrusion. Within the Grilamid L polyamide 12 family, the L 20 L designation identifies a controlled melt-flow position that is placed between easier-flowing low-viscosity grades and higher-melt-strength extrusion grades. The unreinforced semicrystalline matrix contains no glass or carbon reinforcement; therefore mechanical response is governed by PA12 crystallinity, absorbed moisture content, and process-induced orientation rather than fiber-length distribution.
Commercial packaging is moisture-barrier material in 25 kg bags or 1000 kg octabins. Storage below 30°C in unopened packaging is standard. Opened containers should be resealed under dry air; if granules are exposed above 60% relative humidity for more than 2 h, predrying before processing is required.
Material identification under ISO 1043-1 is PA12. Density measured under ISO 1183-1 is 1.01 g/cm³, which is 11–12% lower than the typical 1.14 g/cm³ density of unreinforced PA6 and PA66. The melting peak determined by differential scanning calorimetry under ISO 11357-3 is approximately 178°C. Flammability classification under UL 94 is typically HB at 0.8 mm; vertical V-0 is not expected for unreinforced PA12 without flame-retardant additives.
Representative datasheet values for dry-as-molded and conditioned specimens are summarized below. The table is not a specification; it is the starting point for material selection and should be replaced with lot-specific data from the certificate of analysis before tool commissioning.
| Property | Test standard | Dry-as-molded | Conditioned 23°C/50% RH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 1.01 g/cm³ | — |
| Water absorption, saturation in water at 23°C | ISO 62 | 1.4% | — |
| Tensile modulus, 1 mm/min | ISO 527-2 | 1200 MPa | 1000 MPa |
| Tensile stress at yield, 50 mm/min | ISO 527-2 | 35 MPa | 31 MPa |
| Nominal strain at break | ISO 527-2 | >50% | >50% |
| Charpy notched impact strength, 23°C | ISO 179-1/1eA | 6 kJ/m² | 8 kJ/m² |
| Charpy notched impact strength, -30°C | ISO 179-1/1eA | 5 kJ/m² | — |
| Heat deflection temperature, 1.8 MPa | ISO 75-2 | 55°C | — |
| Melting peak temperature | ISO 11357-3 | 178°C | — |
Conditioned specimens are stored under ISO 291 at 23°C/50% RH to equilibrium. Batch-to-batch variation in PA12 polymerization can shift viscosity and crystallization half-time; lot-specific melt volume-flow rate, moisture, and colorimetric data should be obtained from the certificate of analysis.
Residual moisture in PA12 pellets is the primary process control variable. The target moisture after drying is <0.10%. Predrying in a desiccant dryer at 80°C for 4–8 h with a dew point below -30°C is typical. If dried material is held at ambient relative humidity above 60% for more than 2 h, re-drying is required. Water above this threshold reduces molecular weight through hydrolytic chain scission in the melt and produces visual splay and weld-line weakening.
Melt temperature at the nozzle is controlled between 220°C and 250°C. Barrel set points are normally arranged from 210–220°C in the feed zone, 220–240°C in the compression zone, and 240–250°C at the nozzle. Shot size is limited to 60–70% of barrel capacity to reduce residence time. At melt temperatures above 270°C, thermo-oxidative degradation can produce surface roughness, yellowing, and reduced Charpy impact strength.
Mold temperature is maintained at 20–60°C. At the low end, cycle time is shortened but post-molding shrinkage may continue after ejection. At 60°C, crystallization is more complete and dimensions are more stable in service. Hydraulic injection pressure is typically 500–900 bar depending on wall thickness and flow path. High-speed injection that produces shear heating above 20°C over the set melt temperature should be avoided in thin-wall parts because local overheating can generate flow lines and gate embrittlement.
Processing screws for unreinforced PA12 typically use L/D 20:1–25:1 and a compression ratio 2.0:1–2.4:1. Vented screws are not used because moisture removal is assigned to the drying stage. In hot-runner tools, lot-to-lot MVR at 275°C/2.16 kg under ISO 1133-1:2022 should be checked against the supplier certificate; lower-viscosity lots may require reduced hold pressure, while higher-viscosity lots may increase pressure drop and force a higher melt setting within the allowed range. Hot-runner manifolds should not exceed 250°C, because long residence time above this temperature can produce gel formation and gate-zone embrittlement.
On production-scale single-screw extruders with grooved feed and L/D 24:1, operation above 250°C may produce surface roughness and discoloration from thermal abuse. In molded tools with long flow paths, hydraulic filling pressures above 900 bar can create parting-line flash if clamp force is insufficient. A batch-to-batch MVR shift of 10% under ISO 1133-1:2022 may alter peak hydraulic pressure by 5% in a 40-cavity cable-tie tool; boost cut-off position should be adjusted from lot data rather than locked.
Crystallization half-time of PA12 is longer than that of PA6 at equivalent mold temperatures. In sections above 3 mm, packed part density depends on holding time and gate freeze. Mold temperature should be raised to 60°C for close-tolerance parts. Mold shrinkage under ISO 294-4 is typically 0.4–0.7% in flow direction and 0.7–1.0% transverse, depending on wall thickness, injection speed, and packing pressure. Tool design should use these preliminary values and verify with a pilot mold before multi-cavity steel is cut. If splay occurs, predrying and dew point should be checked first; warpage correction begins with mold temperature and packing profile; gate brittleness correction begins with lower melt temperature or shear heating.
Saturation water absorption of PA12 is approximately 1.4% under ISO 62, compared with 9.5% for unreinforced PA6 and 8.5% for unreinforced PA66. The lower equilibrium moisture uptake reduces the dry-to-conditioned drop in tensile modulus; for Grilamid L 20 L, tensile modulus shifts from roughly 1200 MPa dry to 1000 MPa conditioned at 23°C/50% RH. This smaller shift reduces dimensional change in humid indoor service and provides more stable electrical insulation behavior than short-chain polyamides.
Moisture conditioning changes impact behavior more than tensile strength. Charpy notched impact at 23°C increases from 6 kJ/m² dry to 8 kJ/m² conditioned under ISO 179-1/1eA. This increase is smaller than the toughness increase seen in PA6 and PA66 when conditioned because PA12 absorbs less water. The lower moisture shift is relevant for actuator clips and snap fits that must retain consistent stiffness across seasonal humidity changes.
Electrical properties measured on dry test specimens include volume resistivity near 1×1013 Ω·m by IEC 62631-3-1, dielectric strength near 25 kV/mm at 1 mm thickness by IEC 60243-1, and comparative tracking index 600 V by IEC 60112. The material is not intrinsically conductive; ESD or EMI shielding requires conductive PA12 grades, not the L 20 L base resin.
Chemical exposure behavior is typical of semicrystalline PA12. The material resists aliphatic hydrocarbons, mineral oils, greases, dilute salt solutions, and many common automotive fluids. PA12 is less sensitive than PA6 and PA66 to stress cracking from zinc chloride-based de-icing salts, which is one reason it appears in clips and fasteners used in underbody or cold-climate service. Concentrated sulfuric acid, formic acid, phenol, strong oxidizing agents, and highly polar solvents can attack the matrix. For a specific fluid, temperature, and retained stress, exposure testing under ISO 175 should be performed on finished parts. Published data for long-term exposure to aggressive urea or hot ethylene glycol solutions in this exact molding grade is limited.
Cable ties and snap-fit connectors are produced in multi-cavity injection tools using melt temperatures of 230–245°C, mold temperatures of 30–40°C, and holding pressures adjusted to gate freeze. The >50% nominal strain at break from ISO 527-2 and Charpy notched impact near 6 kJ/m² at 23°C provide ductility in flexure and assembly. Increasing mold temperature to 60°C improves dimensional consistency but may extend cycle time. Snap-fit designs should keep long-term outer-fiber strain at all load-bearing points below 2.5–3.0% based on the stress-strain curve generated under ISO 527-2; higher strain levels can lead to creep and loss of retention force.
Pneumatic and fuel-vapor tubing is extruded on single-screw lines with L/D 24:1–30:1, vacuum sizing at 20–40°C, and closed-loop diameter gaging. The low equilibrium moisture uptake reduces post-extrusion diameter drift under changing humidity. Pressure-containing tubes should be qualified to product-specific standards such as ISO 14743 for thermoplastic pneumatic hoses or SAE J844 for automotive air-brake tubing, with burst pressure generated on production samples rather than laboratory plaques.
Automotive interior clips and fasteners use PA12 to avoid the sharp loss in low-temperature ductility seen with some unreinforced short-chain polyamides. Charpy notched impact at -30°C remains near 5 kJ/m². Continuous load-bearing use above 80°C in humid environments is outside the design window for this unreinforced grade. Creep-sensitive snap fits should be verified under ISO 899-1 at the actual service temperature. Outdoor parts require UV-stabilized variants; natural unfilled PA12 yellows and loses surface ductility if not stabilized.
Relative to unreinforced PA6 and PA66, the principal differences are moisture uptake, density, stiffness, and thermal deflection. PA12 absorbs approximately 1.4% water at saturation, whereas PA6 and PA66 absorb approximately 9.5% and 8.5% respectively under ISO 62. Density of 1.01 g/cm³ is lower than 1.14 g/cm³ for PA6 and PA66. However, dry-as-molded PA6 and PA66 have tensile moduli approaching 3000 MPa, roughly 2.5× higher than the 1200 MPa of L 20 L; therefore PA12 is not a direct stiffness substitute in heavily loaded ribs or structural brackets.
| Comparative parameter | Test standard | Grilamid L 20 L PA12 | Unreinforced PA6 | Unreinforced PA66 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 1.01 g/cm³ | 1.14 g/cm³ | 1.14 g/cm³ |
| Saturation water absorption, 23°C | ISO 62 | 1.4% | 9.5% | 8.5% |
| Melting peak | ISO 11357-3 | 178°C | 220°C | 260°C |
| Heat deflection temperature, 1.8 MPa | ISO 75-2 | 55°C | 65°C | 75°C |
Compared with higher-viscosity PA12 extrusion grades in the same family, L 20 L is positioned for injection molding of thin-wall parts and multi-cavity tools. High-viscosity PA12 grades provide greater melt strength for blow molding, large-diameter profile, and extrusion where draw-down resistance is critical. Processors selecting between L 20 L and a higher-viscosity grade should compare lot MVR by ISO 1133-1:2022 and melt extensibility on production equipment rather than using density alone.
Compared with PA11, both PA12 and PA11 are low-moisture, low-density long-chain polyamides. PA12 is selected in some fuel and pneumatic tubing because of its lower equilibrium moisture uptake and different melting point; PA11 remains a commercially used alternative. Direct substitution should compare melting peak by ISO 11357-3, water absorption by ISO 62, and low-temperature impact by ISO 179-1/1eA on the same tool and conditioning cycle. Published data for this specific grade in every possible end use is limited; qualification on production parts is required.
The operational boundary for continuous load-bearing use in humid environments is approximately 80°C. The grade does not provide the 150°C thermal stability of semi-aromatic PPA or PEEK. It is not specified for direct exposure to concentrated oxidizing acids, and outdoor use requires UV-stabilized variants. Food-contact and drinking-water approvals require supplier documentation for the exact color batch under Regulation (EU) 10/2011 or FDA 21 CFR 177.1500; the base resin alone does not establish compliance.
