| HS Code | 346169 |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | -50 °C |
| Tensile Modulus Dry | 1700 MPa |
| Tensile Strength Yield Dry | 45 MPa |
| Elongation At Break Dry | >200% |
| Charpy Impact Strength Notched 23 C Dry | 10 kJ/m² |
| Hardness Shore D | 65 |
| Water Absorption Saturation | 1.5% |
| Water Absorption Equilibrium 50 Rh | 0.7% |
| Volume Resistivity | 1.0E+12 Ω·cm |
| Dielectric Strength | 30 kV/mm |
As an accredited EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LM Nylon 12, Dry factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LM Nylon 12, Dry, supplied in 25 kg sealed bags, moisture-proof packaging for safe handling and storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL loaded with dry nylon 12 granules in sealed bags, secured on pallets, ensuring safe transport. |
| Shipping | Grilamid L 20 LM Nylon 12 ships as non-hazardous, moisture-sensitive granules in sealed foil-lined bags or drums. Keep packaging intact and store in a dry, ventilated area to prevent absorption. Transport via standard freight, avoiding open exposure or extreme heat. Handle with care to maintain product purity and flow properties. |
| Storage | Store EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LM Nylon 12 (dry) in its original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from moisture, humidity, and direct sunlight. Keep away from heat sources. Avoid exposure to water, as the material is hygroscopic. Recommended storage temperature: below 30°C. Under proper conditions, shelf life is typically 2 years. |
| Shelf Life | Store in original sealed packaging in a cool, dry place. Shelf life is typically two years from date of manufacture. |
Grilamid L 20 LM Dry is processed as the inner fluid-contact layer on a five-layer coextrusion line where the layer stack consists of an HDPE outer jacket, a maleic anhydride-grafted tie layer, an EVOH barrier layer, a second tie layer, and the PA12 inner layer. The PA12 layer is maintained at 15–25 wt% of the total multilayer wall thickness; for monolayer air brake tubing, the resin is run at 100 wt% without an EVOH barrier layer. The resin is first dried in a desiccant-bed dryer with a dew point below −40 °C at 80 °C for 4–6 h until residual moisture is below 0.10 wt%; drying is mandatory when ambient relative humidity exceeds 60% because undried pellets raise melt pressure variability and surface splay. The primary extruder uses a barrier screw with 30:1 L/D and a mixing section; barrel zones from the feed throat to metering section are set to 220–245 °C, the coextrusion block is held at 240 °C, and the spiral mandrel die is held at 235 °C. Melt pressure at the PA12 gear pump is limited to 120 bar, and residence time above 240 °C is kept below 8 min to avoid chain scission that increases gel count at the EVOH tie-layer interface. The PA12 layer should not be combined with amine-based moisture stabilizers or high-pH coolant residues because these additives accelerate hydrolysis at the tie-layer interface.
Air brake tubing is tested to SAE J844 and ISO 7628; multi-layer fuel and vapor tubing is evaluated to SAE J2260 for permeation resistance and to DIN 73378 for dimensional and burst performance. Low-temperature impact verification is performed at −40 °C using the notched Charpy method described in ISO 179-1/1eA. On production lines with gravimetric hopper loaders, batch-to-batch melt pressure variation is controlled by verifying melt volume-flow rate to ISO 1133-1:2022 at 235 °C under 5 kg load before startup. The vacuum sizing tank water temperature is held at 15–20 °C to freeze the outer diameter; tube ovality is measured by two-axis laser micrometers and held below 0.05 mm for a 6 mm OD × 4 mm ID tube. In-line regrind is limited to 20 wt%; above this level, the risk of melt pressure variation increases on the same screw geometry. Published data for regrind-dependent layer delamination under hot fuel exposure is limited; therefore, the 20 wt% cap is applied as an operational boundary rather than a measured failure threshold. Finished terminal product types are coiled air brake tubing, fuel vapor return lines, and diesel fuel return lines in commercial vehicles.
| Application segment | Primary compliance anchor | Formulation addition ratio | Melt processing window | Terminal product type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive fuel and air brake tubing | SAE J844, ISO 7628, SAE J2260, DIN 73378 | Inner layer 15–25 wt% of total wall; monolayer 100 wt% | 220–245 °C | Coiled air brake and fuel vapor tubing |
| Railway cable management | EN 45545-2:2013, ISO 5659-2, ISO 4589-2 | 0 wt% filler; color masterbatch ≤ 2.0 wt% | 230–250 °C | Locking cable ties, harness clips, conduit clamps |
| Food-contact conveyor rails | EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177.1500 | 100 wt%; external lubricant 0 wt%; pigment ≤ 1.0 wt% | 220–240 °C | Guide rails, star wheels, scraper blades |
| Pneumatic push-in fittings | ISO 14743:2020, ISO 4414:2010 | 100 wt%; internal release 0.1–0.3 wt% | 230–245 °C | Male stud fittings, bulkhead connectors, tube-to-tube couplings |
| Thin-wall electrical modules | UL 94, IEC 60695-2-11, EU 2011/65/EU | 100 wt% base; flame-retardant masterbatch by target thickness | 230–250 °C | Sensor plug housings, snap-fit modules, cable entry glands |
Railway rolling stock cable management components are molded from Grilamid L 20 LM Dry at 0 wt% filler loading, with a color masterbatch addition limited to 2.0 wt% because higher pigment loading introduces variability in the notched impact response measured by ISO 179-1/1eA at −30 °C. The resin is pre-dried at 80 °C for 4 h to a moisture content below 0.10 wt%, then injection molded on a 1,000 kN clamp force machine with a 35 mm screw having 20:1 L/D and a shut-off nozzle. Barrel temperatures are profiled as 230 °C feed, 240 °C compression, 250 °C metering, and 245 °C nozzle, with the mold held at 55 °C. The main compliance anchor for railway interior components is EN 45545-2:2013, and the material is tested for smoke density and oxygen index according to ISO 5659-2 and ISO 4589-2 when the cable management parts are installed in R22/R23 areas. Finished terminal product types are locking cable ties, harness retention clips, and underfloor conduit clamps.
In beverage filling lines, guide rails and star wheel adapters are injection molded from 100 wt% Grilamid L 20 LM Dry without external lubricant, because the finished parts are subject to overall migration testing under EU 10/2011 and resin compliance under FDA 21 CFR 177.1500. A pigment masterbatch is accepted only up to 1.0 wt% and only if the carrier resin is a polyamide with comparable food-contact status. The resin is prepared in a closed desiccant dryer at 80 °C for 5 h, then molded on a hydraulic machine with a clamp force of 1,200 kN, a 40 mm screw, and a barrel temperature profile of 220–240 °C. Injection speed in thin sections is limited to 80 mm/s to prevent surface frost; mold temperature is held at 50 °C with conformal cooling to keep post-mold crystallinity uniform and to avoid sink marks in thick bosses.
Equilibrium water uptake at 23 °C and 50% RH remains below 1.5 wt% for PA12, so the parts are specified only for conveyor lines where washdown fluids remain below 85 °C and alkaline detergent exposure above pH 10 is limited to 30 min cycles; longer exposure produces surface hazing without bulk degradation. The parts are not specified for repeated steam sterilization above 121 °C, because superheated water above this boundary produces dimensional distortion. Specific migration testing is performed with 3% acetic acid and 95% ethanol food simulants according to EU 10/2011. Finished terminal product types are snap-on guide rails, changeover star wheels, and scraper blades installed in beverage filling lines.
For compressed-air distribution networks, push-in fittings are produced from unfilled Grilamid L 20 LM Dry at 100 wt% with an internal release agent content of 0.1–0.3 wt% to reduce thread-core drag during ejection. The resin is dried at 80 °C for 4 h, then injected on a 800 kN machine using a 30 mm screw with 25:1 L/D; barrel zones are set to 230–245 °C, the nozzle at 240 °C, and the mold at 60 °C. Threaded sections are produced with hydraulically retracted core pulls, and ejection force is monitored to remain below 35 kN to prevent thread root microcracks. Compliance is anchored to ISO 14743:2020 for push-in connectors and to ISO 4414:2010 for pneumatic system safety; leak-tightness and mechanical strength are batch-tested at the rated working pressure declared by the connector manufacturer, with unfilled PA12 bodies tested at 10 bar working pressure and a minimum burst safety factor of 3:1. Finished terminal products are male stud fittings, bulkhead connectors, and tube-to-tube couplings.
At production wall thicknesses below 0.8 mm, thin-wall electrical connector bodies and snap-fit modules are molded from Grilamid L 20 LM Dry at 100 wt% base resin, with flame-retardant masterbatch dosage adjusted only after flammability testing at the production wall thickness. The compound is dried at 80 °C for 4 h, then injection molded on a 600 kN machine with a 28 mm screw; barrel temperatures are 230–250 °C, and the mold is held at 55 °C. Flammability is evaluated to UL 94 at the actual production thickness; without flame-retardant additive, PA12 is typically classified HB at 0.8 mm, while V-2 requires a specifically selected masterbatch at the target thickness. Glow-wire ignition is tested to IEC 60695-2-11 for end-product assessment, and finished parts are documented as compliant with EU 2011/65/EU RoHS. Terminal product types are sensor plug housings, board-to-wire snap-fit modules, and cable entry glands.
Competitive EMS-Grivory Grilamid L 20 LM 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 LM is an unfilled polyamide 12 (PA12) injection-molding resin supplied in dry, natural-colour form. The dry designation refers to a controlled residual-moisture condition before packaging, not to a chemically altered polymer backbone. The L 20 LM grade is positioned within the Grilamid L series as a low-viscosity, semicrystalline PA12 for thin-wall parts, multi-cavity tooling, and applications in which moisture-induced dimensional change must be kept low. The grade does not contain glass fibre or impact modifier and therefore retains the lower density and moisture-absorption behaviour characteristic of unfilled PA12.
The specification is normally controlled through density, melt volume-flow rate, dry-as-molded tensile modulus, yield stress, and notched impact strength. Relevant test methods are drawn from ISO 1183-1, ISO 1133-1:2022, ISO 527-1/-2, and ISO 179/1eA. Typical dry-as-molded data for unfilled PA12 are provided in Table 1. These values are class-typical rather than guaranteed lot limits; the certificate of analysis and the current EMS-Grivory datasheet govern release decisions.
Release testing for the dry material is based on specimens moulded directly from resin with residual moisture below the processing limit. Density is evaluated under ISO 1183-1; melt volume-flow rate is determined at 275 °C under 5 kg load using ISO 1133-1:2022; tensile properties are measured at 23 °C under ISO 527-1/-2; Charpy notched impact is measured with ISO 179/1eA. Thermal values are generated under ISO 11357-1/-3 for melting temperature, ISO 306/A50 for Vicat softening, and ISO 75-2/B for heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa. Water absorption is reported under ISO 62:2008, and mould shrinkage can be evaluated under ISO 294-4.
| Property | Standard | Unit | Typical dry value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | g/cm³ | 1.01 |
| Melt volume-flow rate, 275 °C/5 kg | ISO 1133-1:2022 | cm³/10 min | 20–30 |
| Water absorption at saturation | ISO 62:2008 | % | 0.7 |
| Tensile modulus, 23 °C | ISO 527-1/-2 | MPa | 1400 |
| Yield stress, 23 °C | ISO 527-1/-2 | MPa | 40 |
| Nominal strain at break | ISO 527-1/-2 | % | >50 |
| Charpy notched impact, 23 °C | ISO 179/1eA | kJ/m² | 6–8 |
| Melting temperature | ISO 11357-1/-3 | °C | 176 |
| Vicat softening, A50 | ISO 306/A50 | °C | 140 |
| Heat deflection temperature, 0.45 MPa | ISO 75-2/B | °C | 110 |
| Mould shrinkage, longitudinal/transverse | ISO 294-4 | % | 0.8–1.2 |
Conditioned values differ from dry values. At 23 °C and 50% RH, unfilled PA12 typically exhibits a tensile modulus near 1100 MPa and a lower yield stress because absorbed water acts as a plasticizer. This moisture response is moderate compared with PA6 or PA66 but remains large enough to affect snap-fit insertion force and long-term creep. Design calculations should therefore use conditioned modulus when the part operates in humid air, not the dry-as-molded value.
Moisture handling differs from PA6 and PA66 because PA12 reaches a lower equilibrium moisture content. Nevertheless, the dry state is required to prevent splay, surface roughness, melt-pressure variation, and drift in melt volume-flow rate. A desiccant dryer with a dew point below -30 °C and drying temperature of 80 °C for 4–6 h is commonly specified. Residual moisture should be verified below 0.10% using ISO 15512:2016 before processing if the packaging has been open for more than 4 h at relative humidity above 60%. From a production-scale perspective, inadequate drying of low-viscosity PA12 frequently appears first as splay on polished mould surfaces and as unstable cavity-pressure curves in thin-wall multi-cavity tools.
The low melt viscosity permits filling of complex multi-cavity tools at lower hydraulic pressure than medium-viscosity PA12 grades. Melt temperature should be maintained between 230 °C and 260 °C, while mould temperature should be held between 40 °C and 80 °C depending on required crystallinity, appearance, and shrinkage. At mould temperatures below 40 °C, PA12 solidifies before complete packing, producing sink marks in thicker sections and dimensional variability in snap-fit features. At mould temperatures above 80 °C, cycle time increases and the material may stick in unpolished or insufficiently drafted cavities.
The upper melt-temperature constraint is the more critical process boundary. Residence time above 260 °C in the barrel and hot runner should be minimised; above 280 °C, yellowing and a measurable drop in relative viscosity occur because of chain scission and oxidative degradation. On injection units with 20:1–25:1 L/D general-purpose screws, back pressure should be limited to the minimum required for melt homogeneity because excessive shear heating can raise the actual melt temperature above setpoint. Hot-runner manifolds with dead spots, unmixed corners, or undersized channels accelerate local degradation of PA12 and generate black specks and streaks. Short- to medium-flow paths and valve-gated hot drops are therefore preferred; naturally balanced runner layouts are mandatory for cavity-to-cavity weight stability in precision parts.
Low viscosity also reduces the need for high injection speed. Excessively high speed can create jetting and flow-mark defects in thin walls, while excessively low speed can cause hesitation and surface freezing. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, but the unfilled PA12 processing window is generally broader than that of glass-fibre-reinforced grades. Mould-filling simulation for thin-wall geometries requires viscosity data fitted to a Cross-WLF model, which the material supplier can provide for the relevant moisture state.
Thin-wall automotive quick-connector bodies, electrical cable ties, sensor housings, pneumatic valve components, and cable-management clips use this grade because dry PA12 retains dimensions better than PA6 in humid air and offers low coefficient of friction without external lubricant. The lower density reduces part mass compared with PA6 and PA66. The lower tensile modulus relative to glass-filled PA12 means load-bearing ribs and gussets must be designed accordingly. In fuel-vapour connector testing, PA12 is often selected for resistance to hydrocarbon exposure and zinc chloride stress-cracking, but specific fuel-exposure validation must be carried out to the applicable OEM specification because generic solvent-resistance data cannot be extrapolated to completed connector geometries.
In applications exposed to moisture or condensing humidity, unfilled PA6 and PA66 absorb significantly more water than PA12. This water uptake reduces glass transition, lowers tensile modulus, and induces swelling. The saturation water absorption of PA12 is approximately 0.7% under ISO 62:2008, whereas PA6 typically reaches 9–10%. The lower uptake produces less dimensional growth and better retention of dielectric properties in small electrical housings and connectors exposed to high ambient humidity.
| Attribute | Grilamid L 20 LM PA12 dry | Unfilled PA6 typical dry | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ | 1.13 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1 |
| Water absorption at saturation | 0.7% | 9–10% | ISO 62:2008 |
| Tensile modulus, 23 °C | 1400 MPa | 2800–3000 MPa | ISO 527-1/-2 |
| Heat deflection temperature, 0.45 MPa | 110 °C | 160–180 °C | ISO 75-2/B |
The comparison also shows the mechanical trade-off. PA12 has lower tensile modulus and lower heat-deflection performance than PA66; selecting Grilamid L 20 LM over PA66 is appropriate only when dimensional stability, chemical resistance, or moisture-insensitive dielectric performance outrank stiffness and elevated-temperature creep. L 20 LM also differs from medium-viscosity PA12 grades in melt rheology and molecular-weight distribution. The low-viscosity designation gives shorter fill times and reduced injection-pressure requirements but can produce lower notched impact strength than an otherwise identical medium-viscosity PA12. Mould shrinkage is typically 0.8–1.2% under ISO 294-4, which is higher than glass-filled grades and must be accounted for in snap-fit tolerances.
Compliance status must be obtained from supplier product-stewardship documentation. Generic PA12 resins can be evaluated under FDA 21 CFR 177.1500 for certain repeated food-contact applications, but food-contact status is grade-, colour-, and application-specific. REACH and RoHS declarations should be verified for SVHC content and Directive 2011/65/EU Annex II restrictions. The material is not intended for long-term service in strong oxidizing acids, phenolic solvents, or elevated temperatures above its HDT without mechanical support. Outdoor UV exposure generally requires a carbon-black or stabiliser package and testing to ISO 4892-2 or equivalent. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for UV ageing and for long-term creep under fuel exposure; component validation remains application-specific.
