| HS Code | 109301 |
| Material | Polyamide 12 (PA12), impact modified |
| Color | Black |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ (ISO 1183) |
| Melting Point | 178 °C (ISO 11357) |
| Tensile Modulus | 1,000 MPa (ISO 527) |
| Tensile Yield Stress | 42 MPa (ISO 527) |
| Elongation At Break | >50% (ISO 527) |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength | 25 kJ/m² at 23 °C (ISO 179/1eA) |
| Shore D Hardness | 64 (ISO 868) |
| Water Absorption | 0.9% at saturation in air (ISO 62) |
As an accredited Evonik VESTAMID® EX9203 black Nylon 12 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Evonik VESTAMID® EX9203 black Nylon 12 is supplied as granules in sealed, moisture-proof 25 kg bags, palletized for safe handling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loading of Evonik VESTAMID EX9203 black Nylon 12: secure palletized bags, protect from moisture, ensure proper ventilation and safe stowage. |
| Shipping | VESTAMID® EX9203 black Nylon 12 ships as non-hazardous pellets in sealed, moisture-barrier bags or drums. Keep containers closed and store in a dry, cool area to prevent moisture uptake. Transport in standard covered trucks with adequate ventilation. Avoid exposure to excessive heat or direct sunlight during transit. |
| Storage | Store Evonik VESTAMID® EX9203 black Nylon 12 in its original, unopened packaging in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Protect from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity to prevent moisture absorption. Ideal storage temperature is below 30°C. Under these conditions, the material retains its properties for up to two years. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 2 years when stored dry, cool, and in unopened original packaging. |
Compressed air brake tubing extruded from 100 wt% VESTAMID® EX9203 black is qualified against SAE J844 and ISO 7628 for heavy-duty vehicle pneumatic circuits. The grade is pre-compounded with conductive carbon black and a plasticizer package; no post-dilution with unreinforced PA12 is permitted because lowering the carbon black loading below the datasheet concentration shifts surface resistivity above 106 Ω/sq and removes the electrostatic dissipation function. Drying before extrusion is conducted in a closed-loop desiccant dryer at 80–90 °C for 4–6 h, with residual moisture controlled below 0.1 wt% by ISO 15512 Karl Fischer titration. A grooved-feed single-screw extruder with L/D 25:1–30:1, barrier screw geometry, and gear-pump-assisted melt delivery is operated at 210–250 °C; die temperature is held within ±5 °C of 230 °C to prevent pre-die carbon black agglomeration. Vacuum sizing at −0.5 bar to −0.8 bar and a closed-loop laser gauge maintain outside diameter tolerance of ±0.05 mm. Terminal products are dense-wall monolayer tubes in 6.4 mm, 9.5 mm, and 12.7 mm outside diameter, supplied in 50 m and 100 m coils for tractor-trailer service, parking brake lines, and cab suspension control lines.
Fuel vapour return and liquid fuel transport lines built to SAE J2260 and ISO 13775-2 use VESTAMID® EX9203 black as the inner conductive layer in a coextruded wall. The addition ratio is not a bulk melt blend; the inner stream is metered independently and typically occupies 8–15% of total wall thickness—for a 6 mm OD, 1 mm wall line this corresponds to 0.08–0.15 mm. Adjacent layers include an outer PA12 for impact and zinc chloride resistance, an EVOH barrier core for hydrocarbon permeation control, and maleic anhydride-grafted tie layers on both sides of the EVOH. Processing is conducted on a multilayer coextrusion line with independent gravimetric extruders; the EX9203 black inner stream is dried to 0.1 wt% moisture and fed at melt temperature 220–240 °C. The practical die temperature window is 225–235 °C because EVOH barrier grades begin thermal decomposition above 240 °C while the conductive PA12 stream must remain above 220 °C to maintain homogeneous carbon black dispersion. Operation outside this ±5 °C band produces delamination at the EVOH/tie-layer interface or a discontinuous surface resistivity path. Amine-based processing aids and undried regrind are excluded from the inner layer stream. Inline ultrasonic wall thickness measurement and a high-voltage dry-spark tester operating at 10 kV detect layer thickness drift and pinholes. Terminal products include gasoline feed lines, vapour return lines, EVAP canister purge lines, and flex-fuel vehicle lines meeting ASTM D471 resistance testing after immersion in Fuel C at 60 °C.
In SCR aftertreatment loops, diesel exhaust fluid transport line stock based on 100 wt% VESTAMID® EX9203 black is qualified under ISO 22241-1, ISO 22241-2, and ISO 22241-3 for urea solution handling, with limits on extractable ions, aldehydes, and alkalinity per ISO 22241-2. The conductive carbon black is supplied at the finished compound level; monolayer tubing is extruded without additional dilution. Where a coextruded DEF line is specified with a nonconductive PA12 outer jacket, the inner EX9203 black layer is typically 0.15–0.30 mm, representing 15–25% of total wall thickness. Drying at 80 °C for 4 h to 0.1 wt% residual moisture is mandatory before extrusion. Melt temperature during single-screw processing is held at 215–245 °C, followed by vacuum calibration for 8 mm, 10 mm, or 12 mm OD thin-wall tube. Low-temperature impact resistance after −40 °C conditioning is verified by ISO 179-1 Charpy notched impact on finished tube or plaque specimens; electrostatic dissipation is confirmed by surface resistivity below 106 Ω/sq per IEC 62631-3-2. Finished product types are smooth and corrugated SCR feed, return, and dosing lines for heavy-duty diesel engines, municipal buses, and off-road Tier 4 equipment.
ESD-protected pneumatic control lines made from VESTAMID® EX9203 black are supplied as 100 wt% conductive PA12 monolayer tube for machine builders working under IEC 60079-0, IEC 60079-10-1, and IEC 61340-5-1 electrostatic control programs. Surface resistivity is tested per IEC 62631-3-2 at 23 °C and 50% RH, with an acceptance criterion below 106 Ω/sq; volume resistivity below 108 Ω·m is checked per IEC 62631-3-1 when purchaser drawings require through-wall dissipation. Extrusion uses a 25:1 L/D single-screw with vacuum venting and a melt temperature of 220–245 °C; the tube is pulled through a closed-loop vacuum sizing bath held at 20 °C to fix outside diameters between 4 mm and 16 mm. After drying, exposure of the pellets to ambient relative humidity above 60% for more than 30 min requires re-drying because reabsorbed moisture increases melt fracture risk and reduces surface conductivity. Post-extrusion, the tube passes a high-voltage pin-hole detector and an inline surface resistivity cylinder tester before coiling. The entire wall is conductive, not a coated surface layer, so isolated surface abrasion does not create an insulating island. Terminal products include 4 mm to 16 mm OD pneumatic tubing bundles, individual tubes for valve islands, and pulsing dust-collection lines in chemical milling, grain handling, and paint spray booth installations.
For moving cable conduits in automated assembly cells and semiconductor substrate handling tools, corrugated VESTAMID® EX9203 black profiles are produced at 100 wt% finished compound with no secondary carbon black masterbatch let-down. Compliance is assessed under NFPA 79, IEC 60204-1, and IEC 61340-5-1 where ESD-safe workstations require grounded conductive machine elements. The corrugated profile extrusion line uses a 24:1 L/D extruder with an annular corrugator after the die; melt temperature is set at 225–245 °C and the corrugated wall is formed at a nominal thickness of 0.6–1.0 mm. The conductive PA12 wall dissipates tribocharging generated by repeated cable flexure and prevents dust accumulation on outer surfaces. Terminal product forms are slit and unslit corrugated conduits with inside diameters from 10 mm to 50 mm, drag-chain cable carriers, and robot seventh-axis dress-pack tubes.
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The designation VESTAMID® EX9203 black identifies an unfilled polyamide 12 (PA12) powder supplied by Evonik for polymer laser sintering, also described as powder bed fusion. The grade is formulated with an integral black pigment that persists through the fused part cross-section, rather than relying on post-process surface dyeing. It is processed on CO₂ laser powder-bed systems; the powder is not intended for filament extrusion or injection molding. The material is shipped in moisture-protective packaging and is characterized by particle-size distribution, melt viscosity, and powder re-use stability that are matched to layer thicknesses commonly used in SLS production. Because black pigmentation modifies laser absorption at the CO₂ emission wavelength of 10.6 µm, process parameters must be validated on the target machine; the material is not a drop-in replacement for an unpigmented PA12 SLS powder without revalidation of laser energy and build chamber temperature.
The processing window is bounded by the melting and crystallization behavior of the PA12 matrix. Melting onset according to ISO 11357-3 is typically reported in the range 175–180 °C. The build chamber is maintained below the melting onset but sufficiently close to the crystallization temperature to minimize in-built thermal stress. A part bed temperature gradient greater than ±2 K across the build area can produce warpage and Z-axis delamination on large cross-sections. Therefore, machine thermal calibration is more influential than material lot variance in production. Energy density, scan spacing, and scan count must be balanced against the pigment’s higher absorbency; over-sintering can produce melt pool widening and positive dimensional growth, while under-sintering leaves interlayer porosity and low elongation.
Moisture uptake is a second boundary. When powder is exposed to ambient relative humidity above 60%, absorbed water can vaporize during laser fusion and increase surface porosity. Pre-drying at 80 °C for 8–12 h in a dry-air or vacuum dryer is a common starting point for PA12 SLS powders. Vacuum drying pressure is typically held below 50 mbar. Drying temperature should not exceed 90 °C for extended periods because PA12 powder can oxidize or cake in the container. Powder re-use limits should be established by melt volume-flow rate according to ISO 1133-1:2022; the virgin/used powder refresh ratio is adjusted to keep the flow index inside the supplier’s control window, not by visual inspection. Black pigmentation obscures the yellowing that would otherwise indicate oxidative degradation in unpigmented powder, making melt-flow testing the required control method.
The ranges in Table 1 are representative for unfilled PA12 SLS specimens in the X-Y build orientation, dry-as-printed and tested at 23 °C. They are not design minimums. Z-axis tensile and elongation values are lower because of interlaminar fusion boundaries; published data for this specific black-pigmented grade in all build orientations is limited.
| Property | Test method | Representative range |
|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 0.99–1.02 g/cm³ |
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-1/-2 | 1600–1800 MPa |
| Tensile strength at yield | ISO 527-1/-2 | 45–50 MPa |
| Nominal elongation at break | ISO 527-1/-2 | 15–25% |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178 | 1300–1500 MPa |
| Charpy notched impact strength | ISO 179-1/1eA | 5–8 kJ/m² |
| Vicat softening temperature B50 | ISO 306 | 155–165 °C |
| Melting temperature, DSC | ISO 11357-3 | 175–178 °C |
The property envelope aligns with the unfilled PA12 matrix. The black pigment is not a reinforcing filler; no significant increase in tensile modulus is expected relative to unpigmented PA12. Because sintered PA12 parts contain residual porosity, the measured density is below that of injection-molded PA12. Typical pore volume in SLS PA12 is on the order of 1–3%; this reduces effective modulus relative to solid PA12 and can act as a permeation path for fluids. If pressure-tightness is required, a sealing post-process may be necessary. The property range in Table 1 is therefore not directly comparable to injection-molded PA12 data.
Test data generated according to ASTM D638-14 are not directly interchangeable with ISO 527-1/-2 results because specimen geometry and strain-rate definitions differ. Users should compare materials using one standard set only.
Integrated black color eliminates the aqueous acid-dye bath commonly used for natural PA12 SLS components. The technical benefit is not purely aesthetic: post-process dyeing at temperatures between 80 °C and boiling point can alter small-feature dimensions and produce non-uniform uptake in thin-walled sections. With the black-pigmented grade, colorant is present in the fused bed, so appearance depth is not controlled by surface absorption kinetics. However, the pigment changes the powder’s absorption of the CO₂ laser wavelength, which may reduce the energy required for full particle coalescence. Machine operators must validate exposure parameters; excessive laser energy can produce melt pool widening, positive dimensional growth, and loss of fine features.
Compared with unpigmented PA12 SLS powder, the mechanical property envelope is generally aligned with the unfilled PA12 matrix. Compared with glass-filled PA12 SLS materials, VESTAMID® EX9203 black has lower modulus but higher elongation at break and higher notched-impact energy absorption. This profile suits snap-fit clips, cable brackets, living hinges, and housings where flexural strain recovery is required. Compared with PA11 SLS powders, PA12 typically exhibits a lower melting temperature and a different moisture-absorption equilibrium; selection should be based on the end-use thermal, chemical, and fatigue environment. For designs requiring modulus above the range in Table 1, glass-filled SLS grades are the conventional alternative. For designs requiring maximum low-temperature impact, PA11 grades should be compared because PA12 and PA11 differ in chain structure and crystalline phase behavior.
On a production-scale CO₂ laser system with a 0.12 mm layer thickness and a build volume of approximately 400 × 400 × 500 mm, the main process bottleneck is powder refresh management. Used powder exposed to repeated near-melt thermal cycles develops increased melt volume-flow rate and reduced elongation at break. The virgin/used refresh rate must be set to maintain the melt flow index within the supplier’s control window. For short-run automotive clips and electronics housings, parts are built in the X-Y orientation to maximize tensile elongation. Hinges and snap arms are oriented at 0° to the build plane, and minimum wall thickness is kept at 0.8 mm to avoid fragile edges during powder removal. Tool-specific limits should be confirmed on the target SLS machine, because laser spot diameter and scan strategy alter minimum feature geometry.
The black color does not impart electrical conductivity. The material is electrically insulating; carbon-black conductive content is not implied by the black pigmentation. If electrostatic discharge control is required, surface resistivity should be measured according to IEC 62631-3-2, and a conductive SLS grade should be evaluated separately.
Production-scale powder reuse cannot be controlled by visual inspection of black PA12. Natural PA12 powders may show yellowing as oxidative aging advances; black powder masks this color shift. Consequently, melt volume-flow rate per ISO 1133-1:2022 is the required laboratory check after each build cycle. The melt-flow index should be trended against the percentage of used powder in the feed. If the flow index drifts outside the supplier’s control window, the used-powder fraction is reduced and the recovered powder is blended with virgin VESTAMID® EX9203 black. Failing to control the flow index produces parts with variable density, lower elongation at break, and higher surface porosity, even when the laser energy remains unchanged.
Storage conditions should be recorded with dew-point data. Dry-air cabinets or sealed containers with desiccant are used in production to keep powder below the moisture threshold before loading. If a hopper or feeder is left open in ambient air at relative humidity above 60%, the powder should be dried before the next build. Vacuum drying at 80 °C and pressure below 50 mbar removes moisture more efficiently than still-air heating, but the powder bed must not be stacked above the container fill line specified by the dryer manufacturer. Poor heat transfer through a deep powder bed can leave the core moist while the surface is dry, leading to lot-to-lot variation on large builds.
Regulatory status cannot be assumed from polymer composition alone. The PA12 base chemistry is subject to EU REACH registration obligations for the monomer and polymer substances. The black pigment package must be reviewed under Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) for restricted metal content if the printed article is placed on the European market as electrical or electronic equipment. No 21 CFR food-contact clearance is automatically conferred by the use of PA12; food-contact suitability must be validated for the finished article and the pigmented grade. Biocompatibility is not established for all applications; the material should not be selected for medical-device body contact without an evaluation according to ISO 10993-1.
