| HS Code | 635871 |
| Glass Fiber Content | 15% |
| Density | 1.18 g/cm³ |
| Melting Temperature | 178 °C |
| Tensile Modulus | 6000 MPa |
| Tensile Stress At Break | 90 MPa |
| Tensile Strain At Break | 4% |
| Flexural Modulus | 5500 MPa |
| Flexural Strength | 120 MPa |
| Charpy Impact Strength 23 C | 60 kJ/m² |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength 23 C | 8 kJ/m² |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 0 45 Mpa | 170 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 1 80 Mpa | 155 °C |
| Coefficient Of Linear Thermal Expansion | 80 µm/(m·°C) |
As an accredited Evonik VESTAMID LC-GF15 NC Nylon 12, 15% Glass Fiber Reinforced factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Packaged as dry, moisture-proof sealed polyethylene bags containing 25 kg of VESTAMID LC-GF15 NC nylon 12 pellets, 15% glass fiber reinforced. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loaded with Evonik VESTAMID LC-GF15 NC nylon 12 (15% glass fiber reinforced) pellets, securely packed for transport. |
| Shipping | This product ships as a non-hazardous, moisture-sensitive thermoplastic resin in sealed, moisture-barrier bags or drums, typically on pallets. Protect from humidity and direct sunlight during transit. No special transport classification applies; however, keep away from excessive heat and sharp objects to prevent package damage. |
| Storage | Store VESTAMID LC-GF15 in its original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep the material protected from moisture absorption, as nylon 12 can degrade with humidity. Maintain temperatures below 30°C and avoid prolonged exposure to air to preserve mechanical properties. |
| Shelf Life | Store in original sealed packaging, away from moisture and heat. Typical shelf life is 2 years from date of delivery. |
Evonik VESTAMID LC-GF15 NC is a natural-colour PA12 compound incorporating 15% by weight short glass fibre. In automotive fuel-vapour quick connectors the glass reinforcement alters the failure mode from ductile necking to a higher-modulus, lower-creep response, but only when the fibre orientation distribution is controlled across the part wall. On production-scale injection moulding machines with a three-zone screw of L/D 20:1 to 25:1 and compression ratio 2.0:1 to 2.5:1, the grade is dried in desiccant dryers with a dew point of −40°C at 80°C for 4–8 h. Residual moisture below 0.08% determined by ISO 15512 is required before the barrel temperature is profiled from 220°C at the feed throat to 255°C at the nozzle. A reverse-taper nozzle and naturally balanced externally heated hot runner reduce glass freeze-out at the melt front. Mould temperatures of 60–80°C are held to reduce pseudoskin formation and to prevent the development of a resin-rich wall layer without fibre bridging. The moulded connector is commonly qualified to SAE J2044 dimensions, then leak tested at 4 bar and thermally cycled from −40°C to 120°C. Failure analysis of rejected components from high-volume production shows that weld lines near the retaining lip can retain less than 30% of the unwelded tensile strength when the melt-front meeting angle is low. Moving the gate position away from the lip or increasing the local wall thickness from 2.0 mm to 2.5 mm is used in process rectification to restore pressure-decay acceptance, although published component-level data for this specific natural-colour glass-filled grade remains limited in SAE J2044 qualification summaries.
In pneumatic push-in fittings and manifold bases designed for compressed air lines conforming to ISO 14743, the 15% glass-reinforced PA12 is substituted for unfilled PA12 when ovalisation of the tube socket after repeated clamping must remain below 0.15 mm. The main process constraint is that each weld line becomes a structural discontinuity because the glass fibres align parallel to the melt front rather than across it. On a 16-cavity cold-runner tool with submarine gates, the maximum cavity-to-cavity pressure difference during filling is held to no more than 15%, and holding pressure is applied until the gate freezes at 2–4 s. If the tool surface temperature falls below 60°C, the weld line in the thread boss can show tensile stress at break values of 40–55 MPa instead of the 65–85 MPa range reported for the base material under ISO 527-2/1A. Components are usually burst-tested with dry air at 10 bar and subjected to a pneumatic leak decay threshold of 0.5 cm³/min after conditioning for 500 h at 80°C and 95% relative humidity. Glass fibre also changes thread behaviour: thread-forming screws with high core diameter can generate radial stress beyond the hoop strength of the boss, so bosses are typically designed with a minimum wall thickness of 2.0 mm and an engagement length of 1.5 times the nominal diameter. Published data for fibre-filled PA12 thread bosses under ISO 14743 supplier reports is sparse, so processor-specific component qualification is required before a final tightening-torque specification is released.
Cable retention clips and connector housings in rail vehicles and industrial automation use this grade when low water uptake and dimensional stability at 23°C and 50% relative humidity are more important than maximum toughness. PA12 absorbs less water at equilibrium than PA6 or PA66; at 50% RH, 15% glass-filled PA12 commonly shows a mass gain below 0.7%, whereas glass-filled PA66 is commonly reported at 2.5–3.0% under ISO 62 humidity conditions. The lower equilibrium uptake limits the increase in pitch spacing across a multi-clip array to values below 0.2% after 1,000 h, which is often necessary for rolling stock assembly tolerances. In these parts a single injection gate per clip is preferred because multiple gates create an internal weld line at the flexural hinge; repeated snap-fit deflection at that hinge can initiate stress whitening at the weld line, and the cycle count depends on hinge thickness and gate location. Because the natural-colour grade contains no carbon black, outdoor use requires an added UV stabiliser. Long-term UV performance should be validated on the final component under ISO 4892-2, not extrapolated from a natural unfilled PA12 plaque.
Glass-reinforced PA12 is used in vacuum and pressure tubing where roundness and collapse resistance under cyclic negative pressure are the acceptance criteria. During single-screw extrusion with a grooved feed section and a barrier screw, the melt temperature at the die is normally held between 240°C and 260°C. If the melt temperature drops below 230°C, die-lip flow becomes unstable because the glass fibres retard melt relaxation and the matrix no longer maintains sufficient extensional uniformity. Under a vacuum collapse test at −0.8 bar, tubing extruded below that limit has shown increased ovalisation, with outer diameter variation across the coil exceeding 0.10 mm against a specification of ±0.05 mm. The die gap is set to 1.2–1.5 times the final wall thickness, and the drawdown ratio is kept below 1.05 to limit the longitudinal fibre alignment that increases tensile modulus but reduces hoop strain. Downstream sizing is performed in a vacuum calibration sleeve maintained at 60–80°C; cold water below 20°C is avoided because rapid solidification freezes surface amorphous PA12 and can leave glass fibres protruding at the inner wall. Processing bulletins for glass-reinforced PA12 compounds recommend regrind levels no higher than 25% in tubing applications, since repeated fibre breakage shortens the glass length distribution and can shift flexural modulus below the minimum specified for combined pressure and vacuum cycling.
PA12 GF15 is used in chemical process components such as impellers, wear rings, and filter plates when the medium is a hydrocarbon, aliphatic solvent, hydraulic oil, or dilute alkali and the operating temperature remains below 60°C. In aromatic solvent exposure the design review must distinguish reversible plasticisation from permanent matrix degradation. ISO 175 immersion testing at 23°C and 60°C is used to measure mass change, dimensional change, and tensile strength retention after 7 days and 30 days. Aromatic solvents and certain halogenated hydrocarbons can reduce tensile strength by 20–40% after 30 days at 60°C when load is applied during exposure; part of this loss is recovered after solvent desorption. The glass reinforcement concentrates this effect at the fibre-matrix interface, so failure shifts from simple softening to microcracking at the glass-polymer boundary when applied strain exceeds 1.5%. For metering pumps handling diesel, lubricating oil, or glycol-based aqueous solutions, the grade has sufficient chemical resistance for seals and impeller wear rings, but continuous service above 80°C in hot water or steam is not recommended because PA12 undergoes hydrolytic chain scission over time. Incompatible media include strong mineral acids, oxidising acids, m-cresol, phenol, formic acid, and concentrated chlorinated solvents; exclusion should be specified during design review rather than verified by prolonged immersion alone.
Because the natural-colour grade contains no carbon black and is not inherently flame-retarded, procurement specifications should be converted into component-level validation plans rather than extrapolated from unfilled PA12 datasheets. The compliance matrix below lists the dominant test standards for each downstream segment and the characteristic that must be confirmed on the moulded or extruded component.
| Application segment | Test characteristic | Standard or method | Component-level observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive quick connectors | Leak decay, thermal cycling, vibration endurance | SAE J2044, ISO 16750-4 | Weld lines near retaining lips are the limiting zone |
| Pneumatic push-in fittings | Dimensional stability, burst resistance | ISO 14743, ISO 527-2/1A | Moisture uptake at 95% RH shifts boss dimensions and torque retention |
| Electrical connector housings | Comparative tracking index, flammability | IEC 60112, UL 94 | Glass fibres can reduce melt drip; final classification must be confirmed at 0.8 mm or 1.6 mm |
| Chemical process parts | Immersion resistance, stress-cracking tendency | ISO 175 | Fibre-matrix interface becomes the main weak zone under load plus solvent |
| Outdoor cable components | UV ageing, colour change, tensile retention | ISO 4892-2, ISO 527-2/1A | Natural grade requires UV stabiliser validation on the final component |
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Evonik VESTAMID LC-GF15 NC is a semi-crystalline polyamide 12 injection-molding and extrusion compound containing 15% glass-fiber reinforcement by weight and supplied in natural color. The grade belongs to the VESTAMID L family, whose backbone is polymerized from laurolactam and exhibits lower equilibrium moisture uptake than short-chain polyamide 6 or polyamide 66. Density determined by ISO 1183 on dry-as-molded specimens is reported in the 1.06 g/cm³ to 1.11 g/cm³ range, depending on fiber length distribution, fiber content, and molded skin–core morphology. The glass-fiber phase raises tensile modulus and heat deflection temperature relative to unfilled VESTAMID L1600, while the 15% loading retains higher elongation and less pronounced anisotropic shrinkage than a 30% glass-filled VESTAMID L-GF30. When the natural-color designation is used, the material is suitable for masterbatch coloring, but the coloring step requires re-evaluation of mechanical properties and regulatory status because carrier resins and pigments alter the effective additive loading. Lot-specific data should be reviewed against the certificate of analysis; published data for this specific configuration is limited, and representative ranges in this document are based on manufacturer technical literature.
Predrying of the pellets to a residual moisture content below 0.1% is required before melt processing. A desiccant dryer with a dew point of -40°C or lower, operated at 80°C to 90°C for 4 h to 8 h, is sufficient for material supplied in sealed containers. Pellets exposed to ambient humidity above 60% RH for more than 4 h may require an additional 2 h to 4 h of drying. Melt temperature measured at the nozzle is normally held between 230°C and 260°C. Barrel profile zones may be set from 220°C near the feed throat to 255°C at the metering section. A mold wall temperature of 40°C to 80°C is typical; mold temperatures below 50°C freeze surface-layer fiber orientation before relaxation and increase the incidence of flow marks and jetting in long-flow thin-wall cavities.
On all-electric injection molding machines with plasticating screws of 20:1 to 25:1 L/D ratio, back pressure between 3 bar and 7 bar and screw peripheral speed in the 0.15 m/s to 0.30 m/s range are common starting points. Melt residence time above 260°C should not exceed 10 min; exposure above 300°C initiates chain scission and visible discoloration in the natural grade. At shutdown, purging with a high-viscosity polyamide or polyethylene before cooling prevents glass-fiber deposition on the screw root and check ring. Multi-cavity hot-runner tooling requires cavity-to-cavity mold temperature variation below 10°C; larger thermal gradients have been associated with inconsistent fiber orientation, part mass variation, and differential shrinkage in production runs. Melt volume-flow rate measured by ISO 1133-1 at 250°C with a 2.16 kg load is commonly included on the certificate of analysis; target values should be obtained from the lot release document.
Because the glass fibers shorten during plastication, screw geometry with a compression ratio of 2.0:1 to 2.5:1 and a free-flow non-return valve is preferred. A low-shear screw with medium flight depth reduces fiber breakage; excessive screw speed or undersized sprue bushings can reduce fiber length below the critical length required for load transfer, lowering tensile modulus by 10% to 20% relative to well-processed specimens. Drying and melt quality are monitored by part surface appearance and ultrasonic weldability; unwetted glass bundles produce white streaks and inconsistent weld-line strength.
Compared with unfilled polyamide 12, the 15% glass-fiber phase lowers equilibrium water absorption and reduces the coefficient of linear thermal expansion. Water uptake after saturation in water at 23°C according to ISO 62 is generally 0.8% to 1.1% for the reinforced grade, whereas unfilled polyamide 12 typically reaches 1.4% to 1.6%. The reduction in moisture uptake is not linear with glass content because the fiber–matrix interphase retains bound water. Mold shrinkage assessed by ISO 294-4 is anisotropic: flow-direction values of 0.3% to 0.8% and transverse values of 0.8% to 1.0% are reported for injection-molded plaques, while unfilled polyamide 12 commonly exhibits 1.0% to 1.5% depending on wall thickness. Warpage in flat parts becomes significant when the flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratio exceeds 100:1 or when thickness steps greater than 3 mm create differential cooling. The 15% glass loading produces less severe orientation-induced anisotropy than a 30% glass-filled grade, but it still requires gate placement and conformal cooling analysis when dimensional tolerance is below 0.1 mm.
Representative dry-as-molded values are compiled in the table below to position LC-GF15 NC against unfilled polyamide 12 and a 30% glass-filled polyamide 12 grade. The ranges are not simultaneous maxima; they are typical values from manufacturer technical literature and are influenced by fiber length distribution, mold temperature, and conditioning history.
| Property and test method | VESTAMID LC-GF15 NC | Unfilled PA12 | PA12 GF30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density, ISO 1183 (g/cm³) | 1.06–1.11 | 1.01–1.03 | 1.24–1.28 |
| Tensile modulus, dry, ISO 527-2 (MPa) | 3,800–4,700 | 1,300–1,600 | 6,500–8,000 |
| Tensile stress at break, dry, ISO 527-2 (MPa) | 80–95 | 40–50 | 110–140 |
| Elongation at break, dry, ISO 527-2 (%) | 4–8 | >50 | 2–4 |
| Charpy notched impact at 23°C, ISO 179/1eA (kJ/m²) | 6–9 | 8–14 | 10–14 |
| Heat deflection temperature, 1.8 MPa, ISO 75-2/A (°C) | 140–160 | 50–55 | 165–175 |
| Water absorption, saturation at 23°C, ISO 62 (%) | 0.8–1.1 | 1.4–1.6 | 0.6–0.8 |
| Unfilled values correspond to VESTAMID L1600; GF30 values correspond to VESTAMID L-GF30. All values are dry-as-molded representative ranges from manufacturer technical literature and require lot-specific confirmation. | |||
The chemical response of LC-GF15 NC in service follows the polyamide 12 matrix; the glass-fiber phase is inert in most organic media but can be exposed at the surface if the matrix swells or is attacked. The grade exhibits high resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbons, mineral oils, diesel, greases, hydraulic fluids, and many non-polar solvents under short-term immersion. Stress-cracking resistance against zinc chloride is a distinguishing feature of polyamide 12 relative to polyamide 6 and polyamide 66; this characteristic is retained in the 15% glass-filled grade, although exposed surface glass fibers may alter local surface roughness and fluid retention. Chemical exposure limits include strong mineral acids, formic acid, phenols, cresols, and oxidizing media. Continuous exposure to hot water or ethylene glycol/water mixtures above 80°C can hydrolytically degrade the polyamide backbone over time; the loss of tensile elongation is accelerated when the coolant contains copper ions or when oxygen is not excluded. Long-term compatibility should be assessed by immersion testing according to ISO 175 with the specific service fluid, temperature, and strain state. Short-term tensile strength retention after immersion in diesel or motor oil at 60°C is generally above 85%, but published data for this specific configuration is limited; coupon testing per ISO 527-2 after ISO 175 immersion is recommended.
Electrical properties are moisture-dependent. Dry-as-molded volume resistivity is generally above 1013 Ω·cm when tested under IEC 62631-3-1, but values decline by several orders of magnitude after saturation at 23°C. Comparative tracking index should be verified by IEC 60112 on the final surface finish because surface glass fibers can alter tracking resistance. Regulatory status must be confirmed for each natural-color lot; the checklist below summarizes typical documentation requests for industrial and transportation applications.
| Standard or regulation | Scope | Verification requirement for LC-GF15 NC |
|---|---|---|
| RoHS 2011/65/EU Annex II | Restricted heavy metals | Natural grade typically conforms; colored formulations require separate declaration. |
| REACH (EC) 1907/2006 | SVHC and authorization | Article 33 declaration may be required; confirm with Evonik for each lot. |
| FDA 21 CFR 177.1500 | Nylon resins for food contact | Natural grade may meet base resin requirements; end-use food-contact compliance depends on additives and conditions of use. |
| ISO 10993-1, ISO 10993-5, ISO 10993-10 | Biocompatibility | Product-specific biological evaluation is required; no medical claim is implied. |
The material is specified in components where unfilled polyamide 12 lacks creep resistance and where 30% glass-filled polyamide 12 or polyamide 66 provides excessive stiffness, higher density, or excessive anisotropy. In automotive fluid connectors, fuel vapor lines, and pneumatic quick-release couplings, the 15% glass loading raises short-term hoop stress capacity and reduces creep elongation under internal pressure relative to unfilled polyamide 12 while retaining the low-temperature toughness required for snap-fit assembly, with notched impact typically above 5 kJ/m² at -30°C under ISO 179/1eA. Component-level validation for fuel system connectors commonly follows SAE J2044 or OEM-specific requirements. Production experience on multi-cavity injection tools shows that the reinforced grade often permits wall thickness reductions of 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm compared with unfilled PA12 when the stiffness target is 2,500 MPa or higher.
In sporting goods and orthotic components, the grade is selected for lower density than die-cast zinc and for lower moisture sensitivity than short-glass polyamide 66; density of the reinforced PA12 is approximately 40% to 45% lower than zinc and 10% to 15% lower than typical 15% glass-filled polyamide 66. The natural color designation permits masterbatch coloring, but the final colored lot must be re-evaluated for UV stability if used in exterior applications because the unreinforced natural PA12 matrix has limited weatherability without carbon black or a UV stabilizer. Xenon arc testing per ISO 4892-2 is recommended for final colored parts.
In chemical processing equipment, the grade has been evaluated for pump impellers, filter housings, and valve bodies where aliphatic hydrocarbons and oils are present at temperatures below 80°C. Field failure modes include brittle fracture at sharp internal corners when glass fibers align transversely to load direction; corner radii below 0.5 mm are not recommended in structural ribs. In electrical housings, the natural grade can be laser marked, but contrast is lower than in carbon-filled grades; laser marking power and pulse frequency must be tuned to avoid charring the amide matrix. Continuous-use temperature for mechanical load-bearing parts is typically limited to 80°C to 100°C depending on stress level and exposure medium; relative thermal index values should be verified under UL 746B for the specific wall thickness and electrical application.
