| HS Code | 845352 |
| Density Iso 1183 | 1.06 g/cm³ |
| Water Absorption 24h 23 C | 0.5% |
| Tensile Strength At Yield Iso 527 | 42 MPa |
| Elongation At Break Iso 527 | 20% |
| Tensile Modulus Iso 527 | 1500 MPa |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength 23 C Iso 179 | 10 kJ/m² |
| Melting Point Dsc | 178 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature 1 8 Mpa | 50 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature 0 45 Mpa | 140 °C |
| Surface Resistivity | 1E5 Ω/sq |
| Volume Resistivity | 1E3 Ω·cm |
| Melt Flow Rate 230 C 2 16 Kg | 5 cm³/10 min |
As an accredited Evonik Vestamid L-R3-EP Antistatic, Black, Electrically Conductive Nylon 12 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | 25 kg net in moisture-resistant polyethylene-lined bags on pallets, heat-sealed and labeled for safe handling of conductive nylon 12. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Packed in 25 kg bags on pallets, stretch-wrapped and securely loaded into a 20-foot FCL container for safe transport. |
| Shipping | Ship as non-hazardous polymer pellets in sealed, moisture-resistant packaging to preserve performance. No dangerous goods classification required, though avoid exposure to humidity and static-sensitive environments. Use standard dry freight with proper labeling for industrial materials. Ensure containers are clean and secure to prevent contamination during transit. |
| Storage | Store Evonik Vestamid L-R3-EP Antistatic, Black, Electrically Conductive Nylon 12 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in its unopened original container. Keep tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption, and protect from direct sunlight, heat sources, and static buildup. Avoid exposure to strong oxidizers. Under these conditions, shelf life is typically one year from delivery. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 2 years from date of manufacture when stored in original unopened packaging in cool, dry place. |
In evaporative emission fuel systems, charge builds when low-conductivity fuel passes through non-conductive polymer lines, and a nylon 12 component inserted between the filler neck and the canister must act as a controlled dissipation path. The relevant compliance reference is SAE J1645 for electrostatic charge mitigation in fuel delivery systems, with finished connectors tested to ASTM D257-14 at 100 V DC after conditioning at 23 °C and 50% RH for 48 h. A maximum surface resistance of 1×106 Ω is applied where the connector body is not the sole ground path. If the part is the only conductive bridge, volume resistivity below 1×104 Ω·cm is often required. Production records for thin-wall quick connectors show that melt temperatures below 230 °C can produce high-resistance zones at the gate and visible carbon black agglomerates. The weld line is particularly sensitive; surface resistance measured along a weld line can be two to three orders of magnitude higher than on the surrounding surface. Tooling design therefore places the gate so that the weld line is moved away from the sealing ring and the electrical contact face. Drying is performed at 80 °C for 6 h with a dew point of −30 °C, targeting moisture below 0.10 wt% before melt processing. Melt temperature is held between 240 °C and 260 °C, and mould wall temperature is maintained at 60 °C to balance crystallinity and conductive network formation. A regrind ratio of 15 wt% is accepted only after three consecutive production batches remain below the specified resistance ceiling. Higher regrind content widens batch-to-batch scatter and increases the risk of losing percolation. Terminal parts include quick-connect fuel line couplings, fuel pump mounting clips, and retainer brackets for tank vent valves.
Printed circuit board handling trays require surface resistance control defined by ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021 rather than a single material datasheet value. A carbon-black-modified nylon 12 tray is considered conductive when the surface resistance measured according to ANSI/ESD STM11.11-2015 is below 1×104 Ω. The static dissipative range extends from 1×104 Ω to below 1×1011 Ω. This distinction determines whether the tray may contact ESDS devices directly or requires an additional dissipative interlayer. Moulders sometimes dilute the compound with unreinforced natural PA12 to improve flow in thin ribs; laboratory measurements on flat plaques show that adding 20 wt% natural PA12 can raise surface resistance above the conductive threshold when the conductive carbon black loading was already near the lower percolation boundary. Published data for this specific Vestamid configuration is limited, so each dilution lot must be qualified on the actual tray geometry at the intended service humidity. Processing is normally carried out on a 25:1 L/D reciprocating screw with back pressure between 2 MPa and 4 MPa. Injection speed is profiled to avoid jetting, because jetting creates high-resistance streaks as carbon black particles align along the flow front and interrupt the conductive network. Mould temperature is held at 70 °C for tray pocket dimensional stability. Lower mould temperatures near 40 °C can reduce surface resistance in flat areas but increase sink marks. Terminal products are matrix trays for QFP and BGA packages, solder-paste stencil frames, and PCB transport racks.
| Application domain | Standard or code | Test condition | Acceptance threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system connectors | SAE J1645, ASTM D257-14 | 23 °C, 50% RH, 48 h, 100 V DC | Surface resistance ≤ 1×106 Ω |
| ESD trays for PCB assembly | ANSI/ESD STM11.11-2015 | 12% RH, 23 °C | Conductive < 1×104 Ω; static dissipative 1×104 to < 1×1011 Ω |
| Ex d cable glands | IEC 60079-0:2017, Clause 7.4 | 23 °C, 50% RH | Surface resistance ≤ 1×109 Ω |
| Wafer handling | ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021 | 12% RH, 23 °C | 1×104 to 1×109 Ω |
Within flameproof Ex d and increased-safety Ex e enclosures, cable glands and blanking plugs moulded from electrically conductive polyamide 12 are used where a metallic gland would introduce a galvanic couple or require additional earth bonding. The controlling specification is IEC 60079-0:2017 Clause 7.4, which limits surface resistance of non-metallic enclosure parts to 1×109 Ω at 23 °C and 50% RH. The same value is commonly applied as a conservative threshold for Group II surface industries. The conductive network must survive tensile elongation of at least 25% in the cable retention zone, and the component must pass impact testing at −25 °C as described in the cable gland standard IEC 62444. Thread-forming conditions require close attention. Mould temperatures below 50 °C can produce a resin-rich skin that temporarily insulates the conductive core, so post-moulding surface resistance measurements are taken on the thread flanks rather than on flat plaques. A regrind ratio of 10 wt% is common, but batch resistance must be recorded because carbon black distribution in regrind fines is not homogeneous. Terminal parts include M20 and M25 cable glands, adaptors for Ex d enclosures, and protective caps with metric entry threads.
In dense-phase pneumatic conveying of flours, resins, or pharmaceutical granulates, charge decay time below 1 µs is often specified for pipe bends and inspection ports so that surface potential remains below the minimum ignition energy of the conveyed dust cloud. Electrically conductive nylon 12 is preferred for these components because it combines low surface resistance with impact toughness down to −40 °C. Metallic components may create sparks on impact, and unfilled antistatic polymers may wear too rapidly. The material must maintain volume resistivity below 1×104 Ω·cm after conditioning for 48 h at 23 °C and 50% RH. A single datasheet value is insufficient because charging in dry product streams occurs below 10% RH, where many antistatic grades lose surface conductivity. Thick-wall conveying elbows are extruded on a 30:1 L/D single-screw extruder with a grooved feed section and a 200 µm screen pack to remove carbon black agglomerates larger than the critical flaw size for impact failure. Melt temperature is limited to 250 °C because higher temperatures degrade the nylon 12 chain and increase volatile emission at the die. During assembly, the contact surface between the conductive insert and the grounded steel coupling is prepared with a conductive sealing ring of surface resistance below 1×106 Ω, measured by the four-point probe method. Terminal products include 90° elbows for DN40 and DN50 lines, inspection port frames, and diverter valve seals.
| Process | Parameter | Starting condition | Qualification note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying | Temperature, time, dew point | 80 °C, 6 h, −30 °C | Target moisture < 0.10 wt% |
| Injection moulding | Melt temperature, mould temperature, back pressure | 240–260 °C, 50–70 °C, 2–4 MPa | Verify weld line resistance on tooled geometry |
| Extrusion | Melt temperature, die temperature, L/D | 225–250 °C, 210–230 °C, 25:1–30:1 | Screen pack 200 µm for thick sections |
| Machining | Minimum allowance per side | 2 mm | Preserve conductive skin; verify core resistance after turning |
Yarn winding and warping machines generate static charge when synthetic filaments slide at 600–1200 m/min across polymer guide surfaces. The resulting charge can cause yarn breakage or dust attraction. Conductive nylon 12 bobbins and thread guides dissipate this charge through the machine frame without requiring metallic inserts that damage the filament. The relevant test method for the finished part is EN ISO 8031:2020 for hoses and hose assemblies, while IEC 60093 is applied to solid machined components for volume resistivity. The material is typically machined from extruded rod rather than injection moulded, because thick-section bobbins made from glass-free conductive PA12 are prone to internal voids during injection moulding. Rod extrusion conditions for a 60 mm diameter bar use a melt temperature of 225 °C and a die temperature of 210 °C. Cooling rate is kept slow enough to produce uniform crystallinity and a surface resistance below 1×105 Ω on the turned surface. A minimum machining allowance of 2 mm per side is retained because the extruded skin contains a higher carbon black concentration than the core. Removing less than 1 mm leaves a part that may read insulative on the surface but become conductive only after wearing through the skin. Terminal products are tube tops, pirn bodies, and shuttle guides for high-speed draw texturing machines.
In direct wafer handling, aluminium end effectors are sometimes replaced with carbon-black-filled nylon 12 to reduce particle generation and avoid metal contamination at the wafer contact edge. The applicable compliance set includes RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU restrictions on lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE. Outgassing criteria are evaluated according to SEMI E49.8-0312 for non-metallic components used in semiconductor equipment. Surface resistance is controlled within 1×104 to 1×109 Ω under ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021. The compound is processed as supplied without dilution. Clean runner scrap may be reintroduced at 15 wt% maximum after verification of surface resistance and particle count, because higher regrind ratios increase particulate counts in the 0.3 µm range. Injection moulding is carried out with a 25:1 L/D screw and melt temperature of 245 °C. Mould temperature is held at 70 °C to reduce post-moulding moisture uptake. The limitation is operational: nylon 12 absorbs moisture, and outgassing or dimensional drift in high-vacuum wafer transfer modules can disqualify this compound. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, so the material is confined to atmospheric wafer handling and peripheral process tooling rather than high-vacuum load locks. Terminal products include vacuum wand tips, edge-contact fingers, and cassette handling brackets.
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A black, electrically conductive polyamide 12 compound supplied under the designation Evonik Vestamid L-R3-EP Antistatic, Black, Electrically Conductive Nylon 12 is specified for extruded and injection-moulded parts that require static decay or conductive charge transfer. The compound combines a semicrystalline PA12 matrix with conductive carbon black, yielding a black product in which the electrical surface resistance is reduced from the insulating range of unfilled polyamide 12 into the dissipative-to-conductive range. In specification practice, the grade is distinguished from unfilled Evonik Vestamid L extrusion products by the antistatic and electrically conductive formulation; the L family identifies the polyamide 12 backbone, while the R3-EP suffix identifies conductivity and processing behaviour. Components produced from the grade are used in fuel vapour lines, solvent transfer conduits, pneumatic conveying, conveyor elements, dust-collection ducting, and electrical equipment housings where charge accumulation is controlled. The pellets are supplied in moisture-resistant packaging because polyamide 12 absorbs moisture. Because the base polymer is PA12, water absorption at equilibrium is lower than that of PA6 or PA66, giving more stable electrical properties in humid service. The current manufacturer’s technical data sheet should be consulted for lot-specific certificate values. As a class, carbon black–filled PA12 compounds tested by ISO 1183-1 typically show density between 1.05 g/cm³ and 1.10 g/cm³, while the melting peak temperature by ISO 11357-3 is generally 172 °C to 178 °C.
Surface resistivity measured according to IEC 62631-3-2 or ASTM D257 provides the primary classification. Insulating polymers generally exceed 1012 Ω/sq, static-dissipative materials occupy approximately 106 to 1012 Ω/sq, and conductive materials fall below 106 Ω/sq. Carbon black–filled PA12 compounds of the Vestamid L-R3-EP type are normally specified in the conductive or upper antistatic range; lot certificates should be used for compliance with IEC 61340-5-1 or ANSI/ESD S20.20. Volume resistivity is obtained separately according to IEC 62631-3-1, with conductive PA12 formulations frequently in the 101 to 104 Ω·m range. Ring-electrode geometries are favoured for planar samples because contact resistance and sample geometry are normalized. The test voltage is typically 10 V for surface resistance and 500 V or 1000 V for volume resistance, but voltage polarity reversals should be avoided when electrochemically active contamination is present. Because resistivity can be anisotropic in injection-moulded plaques, measurements should be made in both the flow and transverse directions; edge effects and moisture conditioning must be recorded. For explosion-protection applications under IEC/TS 60079-32-1, surface resistance of static-dissipative equipment housings is commonly required to be below 109 Ω, while conductive wheels or rollers may require values below 106 Ω. The word antistatic should not be interpreted as a single number; it is a consequence of carbon black network formation at the surface and through the part cross-section.
During melt processing of carbon black–filled PA12, pre-drying is essential to prevent hydrolytic degradation at processing temperatures. Residual moisture content should be reduced to 0.10 % or less, as measured by ISO 15512, before extrusion or injection moulding. A dehumidifying dryer with an air dew point of -30 °C or lower at 80 °C for 4 h to 6 h is a standard starting point; longer drying may be necessary for material stored at relative humidity above 60 %. A desiccant dryer with rotating wheel desiccant rather than twin-tower compressed-air dryers is preferred when ambient humidity exceeds 70 %. For moisture verification, a halogen analyser calibrated against ISO 15512 should be used; a heated hopper alone is insufficient for wet pellet stock. Melt stock temperature during single-screw extrusion is generally maintained between 230 °C and 250 °C, with barrel zones profiled slightly inverse from hopper to die to manage shear heating from carbon black particles. On a 30:1 L/D single-screw extruder with a compression ratio of 2.5:1 to 3.0:1 and a Maddock mixing section, pressure at the breaker plate is typically kept below 250 bar to limit excessive shear. For injection moulding, backpressure and screw recovery should be adjusted for the higher melt viscosity of the conductive grade; a mould surface temperature of 40 °C to 80 °C is used to improve surface finish and conductivity consistency. Start-up purging with a viscous unfilled PA12 or polyolefin purge compound prevents carbon black hang-up in hot runner manifolds. Degradation indicators include black odour, surface silver streaks, and a drop in melt viscosity caused by chain scission. These observations are based on production-scale equipment behaviour rather than laboratory mixing.
Because polyamide 12 absorbs less atmospheric moisture than PA6 and PA66, electrical conductivity is less sensitive to humidity drift. Water absorption at saturation for unfilled PA12 is approximately 1.5 % to 2.0 % according to ISO 62; PA6 may reach 9 % to 10 % and PA66 7 % to 9 %. Carbon black loading reduces the matrix’s available free volume, so the conductive PA12 class typically shows lower equilibrium moisture uptake than unfilled PA12. A lower moisture equilibrium directly limits the conductivity drift caused by absorbed water acting as a plasticizer and ionic charge carrier. In fuel line and compressed-air applications, dimensional stability and electrical resistance after conditioning at 23 °C and 50 % RH for 168 h should be compared with the immediate as-moulded state. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; qualification is normally performed by the moulder using identical cavity geometry and measurement probe layout. When humid ageing is a customer requirement, the relevant test procedure is IEC 60068-2-78 or ISO 1110, followed by resistance measurement according to IEC 62631-3-2. The lower amide group concentration per repeat unit in PA12 relative to PA6 and PA66 is the structural basis for reduced moisture sensitivity.
Compared with the same supplier’s nonconductive PA12 extrusion grades, the electrically conductive modification sacrifices some ductility and impact strength because carbon black agglomerates act as stress concentrators. Tensile modulus of carbon black–filled PA12 may be higher than unfilled PA12, while nominal strain at break is lower. Typical unfilled PA12 values are 1400 MPa tensile modulus and 200 % elongation at break by ISO 527-1/-2; conductive PA12 compounds may exhibit elongation at break in the 5 % to 40 % range depending on carbon black loading. The reduction in elongation is not linear with filler grade; some highly conductive compounds fall below 10 % as-moulded, while lower filler loadings retain static-dissipative properties with higher ductility. Notched Charpy impact strength according to ISO 179-1/1eA also decreases. The conductive network formation depends on filler loading above the percolation threshold; the product is formulated to balance processability and electrical reproducibility. In contrast to carbon nanotube or intrinsically conductive polymer additives, carbon black offers established industrial handling and lower raw-material cost but requires dispersive mixing to avoid agglomerates that cause surface roughness and local hot spots in large-diameter pipe extrusion. These comparisons are made against the general performance envelope of the material class; they are not supplier-guaranteed specification values.
The following table provides representative values published for carbon black–filled PA12 compounds of the antistatic and conductive type. The values are not lot-certificate substitutes but serve as an engineering envelope for preliminary design. Exact Evonik Vestamid L-R3-EP certificate values should be obtained from current supplier documentation.
| Property | Test method | Representative range | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 1.05–1.10 g/cm³ | Carbon black increases density relative to unfilled PA12 |
| Melting peak temperature | ISO 11357-3 | 170–180 °C | Second heating DSC |
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-1/-2 | 1500–2500 MPa | Depends on filler loading and moisture |
| Tensile stress at yield | ISO 527-1/-2 | 30–45 MPa | Dry-as-moulded condition |
| Nominal strain at break | ISO 527-1/-2 | 5–40 % | Ductility reduced by carbon black |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178 | 1400–2400 MPa | Room-temperature bending mode |
| Charpy notched impact | ISO 179-1/1eA | 3–8 kJ/m² | Notched impact strength |
| Surface resistivity | IEC 62631-3-2 | 103–108 Ω/sq | Conductive or static-dissipative class |
| Volume resistivity | IEC 62631-3-1 | 101–105 Ω·m | Through-thickness measurement |
| Water absorption at saturation | ISO 62 | 1.0–1.6 % | Lower than PA6/PA66 |
Because conductive compounds are shear-sensitive, capillary rheometry according to ISO 11443 is preferred over melt volume-flow rate for injection-process simulation. Mould-filling simulations must use pressure-volume-temperature data generated on the conductive compound rather than unfilled PA12.
Production-scale extrusion of conductive PA12 tubing for fuel vapour lines has shown that carbon black dispersion and moisture control are the two dominant process variables affecting resistance uniformity. On multi-layer tubing lines, a 25 mm to 45 mm single-screw extruder with a vented screw is used; the conductive inner layer is typically coextruded with an outer nonconductive PA12 layer. Resistance measurements on the conductive layer after corrugation or bending may increase because the carbon black network is mechanically disrupted at high elongation. Therefore, post-forming resistance verification should be performed on finished components rather than on pelletized feed. Extruder barrel temperatures above 260 °C can reduce molecular weight and cause surface carbon black exudation; heater band setpoints should be verified by thermal imaging or melt thermocouple. In injection moulding of conductive enclosures, surface resistivity is often measured at three points on the cavity side and core side; a variation of more than one decade across a plaque indicates non-uniform tool temperature or filling pattern. Weld lines in conductive PA12 typically show elevated resistance compared with the bulk surface because carbon black orientation is interrupted; gate placement should position weld lines away from grounding contact areas.
From a regulatory perspective, the manufacturer supplies safety data sheets and declarations. The user must confirm that the carbon black type and PA12 base resin meet applicable national standards. In the European Union, compliance with REACH Annex XVII and RoHS 2011/65/EU must be reviewed for the final article; carbon black itself is not restricted, but flame-retardant variants or processing aids may require additional declaration. The grade is not specified as flame-retardant; no UL 94 rating should be assumed from the antistatic designation. For food-contact uses, polyamide 12 may be evaluated under FDA 21 CFR 177.1500 or European Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, but conductive carbon black and processing aids require separate end-product evaluation. Electrically conductive plastic parts used in potentially explosive atmospheres must be assessed for ignition risk due to electrostatic discharge and for resistance to propagation of brush discharge; the material alone cannot guarantee equipment compliance. No direct food-contact clearance or medical implant certification should be inferred from the general grade description without written confirmation from Evonik.
