| HS Code | 953434 |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 40 °C |
| Tensile Modulus | 1600 MPa |
| Yield Stress | 45 MPa |
| Yield Strain | 4 % |
| Nominal Strain At Break | >50 % |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength 23c | 9 kJ/m² |
| Charpy Unnotched Impact Strength 23c | no break |
| Heat Deflection Temperature 1 8mpa | 50 °C |
| Vicat Softening Temperature B50 | 150 °C |
| Water Absorption 24h | 0.25 % |
| Water Absorption Saturation | 1.5 % |
| Molding Shrinkage | 0.5-1.5 % |
As an accredited EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LF grey Nylon 12, Dry factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Available in 25 kg sealed polyethylene bags, this grey Nylon 12 pellet should be kept dry until use. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LF grey Nylon 12, Dry, packed securely in a full container, kept dry and stable for safe transport. |
| Shipping | EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LF grey Nylon 12 (dry) ships as non-hazardous resin. Pack in sealed, moisture-proof bags or drums to prevent water absorption. Store in a cool, dry area away from heat sources. Standard dry freight is suitable; protect from physical damage and excessive humidity during transit. |
| Storage | Store Grilamid L 20 LF grey Nylon 12 in its original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from moisture, direct sunlight, and heat sources. Avoid exposure to UV radiation. Keep away from strong oxidizers. Under proper conditions, shelf life is typically several years. Ensure dryness before processing. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life typically 2 years from delivery if stored sealed, dry, cool, away from moisture and UV. |
Polyamide 12 in the unfilled, internally lubricated EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LF grey Nylon 12, Dry grade is specified for underhood cable harness fixtures where engine-bay air alternates between −40 °C after shutdown and 120 °C heat soak. In this application the material enters the mould as a 100 wt% virgin feed; same-lot regrind may be incorporated at a maximum addition of 20 wt% only after Karl Fischer titration confirms residual moisture below 0.10 wt%. Drying to that threshold is performed in a desiccant dryer with a dew point not higher than −30 °C at 80 °C for 4 h to 8 h. Drying beyond 12 h at this temperature is avoided because oxidative yellowing of the internal lubricant package can occur before the base PA12 shows measurable thermal degradation. Moulding is conducted on reciprocating-screw injection machines with screw L/D ratio between 18 and 22 and compression ratio of 2.0 to 2.5; barrel temperatures are profiled from 230 °C at the feed throat to 255 °C at the metering zone, while the nozzle is held at 240 °C to 250 °C. Mould temperature is controlled between 40 °C and 80 °C. At mould temperatures below 30 °C, the crystallinity gradient between the frozen skin and the melt core is sufficient to produce post-mould warpage in clip arms with wall thickness below 1.2 mm. Hold pressure is maintained at 30 MPa to 60 MPa until gate freeze; early release of hold pressure produces sink marks at the root of fir-tree features. The internal lubricant creates a plate-out layer on core pins during prolonged campaigns; venting depths above 0.02 mm must be cleaned every 8 h to prevent burn marks at the end of flow paths. Terminal components include fir-tree panel clips, cable strap bodies, edge clips and harness connector brackets. Automotive compliance is verified through ISO 527-2:2012 for tensile stress at yield, ISO 179-1:2010 Charpy notched impact at 23 °C and −30 °C, and UL 94 HB flammability class at 0.8 mm; OEM-specific odour and fogging tests apply only where the component is placed in cabin-adjacent zones.
On production-scale equipment, the most frequent failure mode is not melt degradation but moisture-driven surface splay at gate velocities above 400 mm/s when residual moisture crosses 0.12 wt%. A second bottleneck appears when regrind above 25 wt% broadens the molecular weight distribution and reduces notched impact below 4 kJ/m² at −30 °C, a value used by some harness OEMs as a minimum acceptance threshold. This grade is not recommended for applications requiring PA66-like stiffness, because the ISO 527-2:2012 tensile modulus of unfilled PA12 remains below 1,600 MPa; published data for this specific grey lubricated configuration under constant load at temperatures above 100 °C is limited.
Leakage at 8 bar continuous service in push-in fittings made from Grilamid L 20 LF grey is governed less by the tensile strength of the moulded body than by roundness retention of the release collar bore and the absence of internal voiding at the retaining-ring groove. The resin is used at 100 wt% as supplied; dry-blending of external process aids is excluded because the incorporated lubricant already functions as a demoulding and friction reducer. Additional stearate-type mould release above 0.1 wt% can migrate to sealing surfaces and impair the bite of stainless-steel grab rings. Regrind addition is limited to 20 wt% from uncontaminated sprues and runners dried to below 0.08 wt% moisture. Moulding is carried out with a melt temperature between 240 °C and 260 °C; higher melt temperatures up to 270 °C are possible but increase the evolution of low-molecular-weight fractions that deposit on core pins and create micro-leakage paths around the tube stop face. The mould is cooled to 40 °C to 60 °C, and packing pressure is held at 50 MPa to 80 MPa for 1.5 s/mm of nominal wall thickness. In multi-cavity tools the runner system is balanced to within ±2% volumetric fill; cavity-to-cavity fill imbalance above this range produces ovality in the bottom-thread minor diameter, which cannot be corrected by increasing clamp force. Terminal parts include 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm OD push-in connectors, union tees, elbows, reducers and tube-to-thread adaptors for compressed air and inert gas circuits. Conformity is assessed under ISO 14743:2004 for push-in connectors for thermoplastic tubes, with additional pneumatic leakage verification at 1.5 times rated working pressure; material documentation includes ISO 527-2:2012 and ISO 1133-1:2022 melt volume-flow rate for batch traceability.
A process conflict specific to internally lubricated PA12 arises when fitting bodies require pad printing or laser marking after moulding. Without surface pre-treatment, the migrating lubricant film reduces ink adhesion below the 0.15 N/mm pull-off threshold typically required for pneumatic components. Manufacturers using this grade for printed fittings therefore apply plasma or corona pre-treatment in-line; peak surface energy should reach 42 mN/m to 46 mN/m before marking. Published data for this specific grey configuration after plasma ageing beyond 72 h is limited, so printed fittings are normally marked within the same production shift.
In dry-running packaging machinery, guide rails and bottle-transfer wear strips are moulded from Grilamid L 20 LF grey when sliding speeds against stainless steel or UHMWPE guideways remain below 0.5 m/s and contact pressure stays below 1.0 MPa. The grade is processed as a 100 wt% resin feed; because the internal lubricant is already dispersed, no PTFE powder or silicone oil masterbatch is added in downstream compounding, avoiding post-mould transfer to labels or shrink film. Sheet-like wear strips are produced by injection moulding through edge gates into polished plate moulds at a melt temperature of 230 °C to 250 °C and mould temperature of 50 °C to 70 °C; the low melt viscosity of the grade supports filling of long strip cavities from a single gate, although published data for this specific grey lubricated configuration is limited above flow length/wall thickness ratios of 200. Machining after moulding is limited to end trimming because cutting can expose unlubricated core material and create a high-wear edge. Terminal product types include curve wear profiles, chain guide rails, star wheel guides and neck-guide wear inserts. Relevant compliance references are ISO 75-2:2013 for heat deflection under 1.8 MPa, ISO 178:2019 for flexural strength, and REACH Annex XVII restricted substances for industrial equipment components.
Where ABS or polycarbonate housing ribs produce stick-slip, unfilled internally lubricated PA12 is selected for appliance latch hooks and slide shoes because its low surface friction reduces audible movement without liquid grease. The material enters the mould as 100 wt% virgin Grilamid L 20 LF grey; no impact modifier or plasticizer is added, because both lower the ISO 527-2:2012 tensile stress at yield and increase creep under continuous snap-fit deflection. Moulding of latch arms with wall thickness 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm is carried out at melt temperatures from 235 °C to 255 °C, with mould temperature 40 °C to 70 °C and holding pressure 40 MPa to 70 MPa. For snap-fit features with strain at the hook root above 2.5%, the mould cavity is designed with a minimum radius of 0.3 mm at the hook base; sharper radii concentrate stress and cause white fracture marks after 50 load cycles. Multi-cavity hot-runner tools are used with naturally balanced manifolds and thermal gate tips; stringing from internal lubricant accumulation is controlled by setting hot-tip temperature 5 °C to 10 °C below the metering-zone melt temperature. Finished parts include power tool latch hooks, vacuum cleaner cord-management hooks, appliance door catches and gear selector racks. Compliance for household appliances is assessed under IEC 60335-1:2010+A2:2019 through end-product testing; material flammability is documented by IEC 60695-11-10, and mechanical properties by ISO 527-2:2012 and ISO 179-1:2010 at 23 °C.
The operational boundary for this application is set by creep under static latch deflection. At continuous strain above 1.5% and ambient temperature above 60 °C, the unfilled PA12 can exhibit measurable stress relaxation within 500 h; latch hooks intended for high-temperature appliance zones such as dryer exhaust ducts require substitution with a glass-filled or heat-stabilized grade. Published data for this specific grey lubricated configuration under cyclic latch loading in hot humid air is limited.
For outdoor cable cleats and pole-band buckles, Grilamid L 20 LF grey is used only where the component is not exposed to direct sunlight for more than 3,000 h per year, because the pigment package in this grade is not a substitute for a UV-stabilized PA12. The material is fed at 100 wt% as-supplied; for short-circuit testing, the cleat body is assembled around cable to verify retention under IEC 61914:2015. Any post-mould addition of black carbon masterbatch is restricted to 1.0 wt% to 2.0 wt% and must be validated for dispersion because carbon agglomerates above 0.05 mm create local notch sites that reduce Charpy impact at −30 °C. Moulding uses melt temperature 230 °C to 250 °C and mould temperature 60 °C to 80 °C; the higher mould temperature is selected to maximize crystallinity and reduce water-absorption-induced dimensional change over seasonal humidity cycles. Thick sections above 4.0 mm are cooled with an extended holding profile of 60 MPa for the first 5 s and 30 MPa for the following 10 s to prevent centreline cavitation. Terminal products include hinged cable cleats, outdoor cable clips, cable ladder clamps and pole strap retainers. Mechanical acceptance is documented by ISO 527-2:2012 at 23 °C and ISO 179-1:2010 at −30 °C, with UV weathering evaluated by ISO 4892-2:2013 method A cycle 1 only for comparative screening, not for service-life prediction.
Industrial sensor bodies and cable gland internals in automated machinery are injection-moulded from Grilamid L 20 LF grey when mineral-oil mist, weak alkaline cleaning agents and continuous vibration exclude amorphous resins. The material is processed as 100 wt% virgin feed; the only permitted downstream addition is a heat-stabilized colour concentrate at up to 2.0 wt% where grey does not meet equipment branding, because higher concentrate addition alters the internal lubricant distribution and can cause thread galling during assembly. Cable gland components are moulded around threaded cores in unscrewing moulds at melt temperatures between 235 °C and 255 °C and core temperatures controlled at 60 °C to 85 °C; tapered threaded bodies require uniform packing and are held at 45 MPa to 65 MPa until gate freeze to prevent ovality at the sealing shoulder. The low moisture uptake of PA12 relative to PA6 preserves the gland sealing torque after 1,000 h at 40 °C and 90% RH, although published data for this specific grey lubricated configuration in fully moulded cable glands is limited to short-term accelerated tests. Terminal parts include M12, M16, M20 and M25 metric cable gland shells, proximity sensor end caps, terminal box cable glands and sensor mounting brackets. Compliance references are IEC 62444:2010 for cable glands, IEC 60529:2013 for IP protection of the assembled enclosure, and ISO 527-2:2012 for moulding-lot mechanical verification.
Competitive EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LF grey 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!
The designation EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LF grey identifies a polyamide 12 injection-moulding compound supplied and tested in the dry, as-moulded state. The base resin belongs to the Grilamid L family, where the letter L denotes polyamide 12 in accordance with ISO 1043, the numeral 20 indicates a low-viscosity flow class, and the suffix LF refers to a low-friction additive package. The grey pigmentation is pre-compounded and does not by itself alter the base polymer classification. In datasheet terminology, “Dry” indicates that mechanical and rheological values are determined on specimens containing less than approximately 0.1 % by weight residual moisture, rather than on specimens conditioned to equilibrium at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity per ISO 291. Because polyamide 12 absorbs less water than PA6 or PA66, the dry-to-conditioned shift is smaller but not negligible: tensile modulus and yield stress decrease after moisture uptake, while notched impact strength tends to rise. Users comparing this grade with unfilled PA6, PA66, or acetal should therefore confirm whether published values refer to the dry-as-moulded state or to the conditioned state.
The low-viscosity character of the L 20 base gives long flow paths at moderate injection pressures, but also reduces melt strength compared with higher-viscosity PA12 grades such as Grilamid L 25 or L 40. The LF modification improves release and sliding behaviour relative to a neat PA12 of the same viscosity, but the public datasheet does not fully disclose the chemical composition of the low-friction system. Published data for the specific grey LF variant are limited for tribological coefficients; where a fixed coefficient of friction is required for part design, it should be measured on an end-use geometry under the intended load, speed, and counterface condition rather than transferred from generic polymer tables.
Manufacturer-published typical values for the dry PA12 LF system place the density near 1.02 g/cm³ when measured according to ISO 1183-1. That value is higher than unreinforced PA12 without lubricant because of the denser solid lubricant or low-friction additive phase. Water absorption at saturation at 23 °C in water is in the region of 1.2–1.5 % under ISO 62, which is considerably below the saturation values of PA6 or PA66. The dry tensile modulus is generally reported in the interval 1.4–1.7 GPa according to ISO 527-2, with yield stress in the 35–45 MPa range and nominal strain at break above 50 %. After conditioning at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity, the modulus may fall toward 1.0 GPa and yield stress toward 30 MPa, while notched Charpy impact strength measured per ISO 179-1/1eA commonly remains in the 5–8 kJ/m² range at 23 °C for dry specimens. These are typical values, not guaranteed specification limits.
Thermal data follow the PA12 melting range. The melting point reported under ISO 11357-3 is approximately 176–178 °C. Heat deflection temperature under 1.8 MPa is typically near 50–55 °C and under 0.45 MPa near 110–120 °C when measured per ISO 75-2. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion is in the order of 11–13 × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ in the flow direction. Electrical volume resistivity is normally above 10¹² Ω·m under IEC 62631-3-1, and the grade is generally rated UL 94 HB at typical wall thicknesses. The grey coloration may alter laser-marking contrast but does not normally change the flammability class.
Specification limits and lot-specific values should always be taken from the production lot certificate. The low-friction additive can shift mechanical strength by a few percentage points relative to the unfilled base resin, and the dry-state values alone do not define long-term performance in humid service.
Closed-loop dehumidifying dryers with a dew point no higher than -20 °C are recommended before processing. The material should be dried to below 0.1 % moisture by weight, typically at 80 °C for 4–8 h in a dry-air oven or dehumidifying hopper dryer. If the granulate remains open for more than a few hours at ambient relative humidity above 60 %, re-drying may be required. Melt temperatures for injection moulding are generally set between 240 °C and 270 °C, with mould temperatures from 40 °C to 60 °C. Excessively high melt temperature above 280 °C or prolonged residence time can cause yellowing, oligomer outgassing, and mould deposit formation. Screw geometries with an L/D ratio of 18–22:1, a three-zone general-purpose screw, and a low-compression ratio are suitable; a non-return valve with smooth flow channels reduces dead spots. Because the base is low-viscosity, injection speed should be moderate to high to avoid premature freeze-off in thin sections, but excessive shear heating above 0.15 m/s screw surface speed is not necessary and may degrade the low-friction additive.
Compared with unfilled PA6 and PA66, the PA12 base absorbs considerably less moisture. This gives Grilamid L 20 LF grey a smaller dimensional change in wet or humid conditions and can reduce warpage in long, thin parts. The trade-off is lower dry-state strength and stiffness: a PA66 grade may offer a dry tensile modulus above 2.8 GPa, whereas this low-friction PA12 system is typically below 1.7 GPa. The choice is therefore appropriate when dimensional stability, low moisture uptake, and sliding behaviour are more important than maximum load-bearing strength. In comparison with glass-fibre-reinforced PA12 grades such as Grilamid L 20 G, the LF grade has lower modulus and hardness but causes less abrasive wear on polymer counterfaces or soft metal shafts. The low-friction additive is intended to reduce stick-slip and wear depth in moving clips, sliding guides, and low-load gear elements; however, the exact reduction in coefficient of friction cannot be stated from the public datasheet alone.
When replacing acetal in lightly loaded sliding parts, the PA12 LF system offers higher impact toughness and better resistance to neutral greases and oils, but lower dimensional precision under load because of its lower modulus and higher thermal expansion. Acetal may be preferred where tight dimensional control under continuous load or fatigue is dominant. PA12 is generally resistant to fuels, oils, hydraulic fluids, and many solvents, but it is attacked by strong acids, phenols, formic acid, and concentrated oxidising agents. The low-friction additive may further restrict chemical exposure, so compatibility tests with production fluids are required.
For general industrial use, the polyamide 12 base is commonly covered by REACH registration and can be assessed under EU Directive 2011/65/EU for RoHS-restricted substances. Compliance must be verified on the specific grey LF lot because the pigmentation and low-friction system may contain additives that vary by production site. For food-contact applications, polyamide 12 may fall under FDA 21 CFR 177.1500 and EU Regulation 10/2011, but the grey colourant and the low-friction modifier require separate migration and food-contact approval. Published data for this specific configuration are limited, and a lot-specific declaration should be requested before use in potable-water or food-contact components.
The grade is not intended for implantable medical devices or for continuous use in contact with strong oxidising media. In applications requiring repeated steam sterilisation above 121 °C, the HDT/A of the material is too low for load-bearing parts, and the low-friction additive may undergo surface migration or discolouration. For short-term steam exposure, PA12 can exhibit hydrolysis at the surface; therefore, the number of sterilisation cycles must be validated on the actual part.
In a humid production hall, moisture uptake in PA12 is slower than in PA6 or PA66 but still measurable. Water acts as a plasticiser: it reduces tensile modulus and yield stress while increasing notched impact strength. If the part is moulded from damp granulate, surface splay, silver streaks, and reduced weld-line strength can appear. The problem is most visible in hot-runner moulds where residual moisture flashes ahead of the melt front. Pre-drying to below 0.1 % moisture is therefore not optional when the datasheet dry-state properties are used for part approval. In a conditioned service environment, design calculations should use conditioned values, not dry values; otherwise the part may be over-designed for stiffness but under-designed for creep and relaxation after moisture absorption.
Production experience with low-viscosity PA12 indicates that screw recovery time should be matched to the cooling time to avoid prolonged barrel residence. A typical medium-tonnage injection-moulding machine with a screw diameter of 30–40 mm and a shot weight using 50–70 % of barrel capacity reduces thermal history. If the shot weight is below 20 % of barrel capacity, residence time can exceed 10–15 min at melt temperature, increasing the risk of additive separation and grey colour shift. Mould deposit near vents is a known failure mode: it can be minimised by reducing barrel temperature in the rear zones, avoiding sharp hot-runner corners, and cleaning vents at regular intervals. The grey colour may show flow lines near gates if injection speed is too low because the low-friction additive can orient differently under shear. Raising injection speed to 80–150 mm/s and using a gate diameter of at least 0.8–1.0 mm in semi-crystalline PA12 helps maintain a uniform flow front.
In sliding-contact prototyping, specimens moulded from the dry LF grade should be tested against the intended counterface after conditioning, not immediately after moulding. Initial dry-state properties can overstate wear resistance in humid use because surface moisture and additive migration can change the transfer film. The absence of published pin-on-disc data for the grey LF variant means that end-use testing under ISO 7148 or equivalent tribological protocols is the only reliable method for accepting or rejecting the material in a sliding application.
