| HS Code | 313048 |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Vicat Softening Point | 145 °C |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 45 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 200% |
| Tensile Modulus | 1200 MPa |
| Flexural Modulus | 1000 MPa |
| Charpy Impact Strength 23 C Unnotched | No Break |
| Izod Impact Strength Notched | 10 kJ/m² |
| Hardness | Shore D 64 |
| Water Absorption Saturation | 1.5% |
| Moisture Absorption Equilibrium 50 Rh | 0.7% |
As an accredited Evonik Vestamid X7373 Nylon 12 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Evonik Vestamid X7373 Nylon 12 is packaged in sealed, moisture-protective 25 kg multiwall bags with clear labeling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loading of Evonik Vestamid X7373 Nylon 12: palletized, secured, dry, ventilated, protected from contamination and damage. |
| Shipping | Evonik Vestamid X7373 Nylon 12 ships as non-hazardous polymer pellets in sealed moisture-barrier bags. Protect from humidity, excessive heat, and punctures. Use dry, covered transport, avoid direct sunlight, and store below recommended temperatures. Standard freight procedures apply, with proper labeling for polymer resin. |
| Storage | Store Evonik Vestamid X7373 Nylon 12 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, tightly sealed in original packaging. Protect from moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat to prevent degradation. Keep away from strong oxidizers. Maintain moderate temperatures and low humidity, using dry storage conditions to preserve material performance. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is approximately 2 years when stored cool, dry, and sealed in original packaging to prevent moisture uptake. |
In heavy-duty commercial vehicle air brake circuits, Evonik VESTAMID X7373 is processed as the sole polyamide phase in monolayer tubing conforming to SAE J844 Type A and ISO 7628-1 dimensional and low-temperature impact classifications. The grade is typically introduced at 100 phr as supplied, because the incorporated heat-stabilizer package and carbon black dispersion permit direct extrusion without a separate antioxidant masterbatch. Post-industrial regrind from burst-test rejects is limited to ≤20 wt% and only after vacuum drying at 80 °C for 4 h to 0.08% moisture; pellet stored at >60% RH is likewise dried before the feed throat. External plasticizer addition is not required and is contraindicated above 3 wt% because phase separation lowers burst pressure in 12 mm OD tubing. Production lines use a single-screw extruder with 25:1–30:1 L/D and a barrier screw, barrel set points of 210 °C feed, 230 °C compression, 235 °C metering, and head pressure 12–18 MPa. No zone exceeds 245 °C; excursions beyond 250 °C initiate thermo-oxidative chain scission, visible as yellowing and measurable as a drop in tube burst pressure. Vacuum venting at −0.08 MPa extracts residual monomer and water, preventing surface pitting in the vacuum calibration tank held at 50 °C. Haul-off draw ratio is maintained at 1.03–1.10 to balance axial shrinkage and hoop stress. Conformity verification on production lots follows SAE J844 burst-pressure and cold-impact protocols at −40 °C and dimensional stability after thermal conditioning at 100 °C for 72 h. Finished product includes coiled nylon tubing assemblies of 6 mm–16 mm outside diameter and 1.0 mm–2.0 mm wall thickness, cut to lengths up to 500 m, used in tractor-trailer service reservoirs, spring brake actuators, and trailer ABS modulator plumbing.
| Parameter | Set Range | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Pellet moisture before extrusion | ≤0.08% | Prevents hydrolysis and surface foaming |
| Barrel zone 1 feed | 210 °C | Solids conveying |
| Metering zone | 235 °C | Homogeneous melt preparation |
| Head pressure | 12–18 MPa | Stable output against die resistance |
| Vacuum vent | −0.08 MPa | Volatile devolatilization |
| Calibration tank | 50 °C | Controlled solidification rate |
| Draw ratio | 1.03–1.10 | Hoop orientation and axial shrinkage balance |
Fuel vapor return lines for gasoline direct-injection engines are manufactured as three-layer coextrusions where VESTAMID X7373 functions as the outer polyamide jacket bonded to an intermediate adhesive and a barrier layer of PVDF or ETFE. The relevant test framework is SAE J1737 for fuel system vapor line hydrocarbon permeation and DIN 73379-2 for low-temperature bending behavior of polyamide tubing. In a production structure of 1.2 mm total wall, the X7373 outer layer is set at 0.45–0.55 mm, corresponding to 38–46 vol% of the structure; the tie resin accounts for 0.10–0.15 mm and the barrier layer the remainder. Regrind of the outer layer, trimmed from startup waste, may be added at ≤15 wt% into the X7373 layer only if separated from barrier-layer fines; mixed regrind causes delamination because PVDF domains act as stress concentrators in the PA12 matrix. Coextrusion is carried out on a three-extruder line with a spiral mandrel die, outer-layer melt temperature of 220–235 °C, barrier-layer melt temperature per the barrier supplier, and die land temperature 235 °C. Vacuum sizing at −0.04 MPa and a water bath at 40 °C stabilize the OD before laser diameter scanning. Material compliance documentation for EU supply includes REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 SVHC screening and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU Annex II substance restrictions; suppliers provide REACH Article 33 declarations when the grade contains no SVHC above 0.1 wt%. Finished tubes of 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm bore are cut and fitted with quick-connect couplings; end-use installation includes fuel filler vapor recirculation lines, tank vent lines, and carbon canister purge lines.
The defect known as coil-set collapse in precoiled pneumatic tube is governed less by melt flow index than by elongational viscosity and die swell of the PA12 melt at the coiling mandrel. VESTAMID X7373 is specified for precoiled polyamide tube because high average molecular weight and controlled die swell allow the tube to retain circular cross-section when wound directly into a spiral shape at the extrusion line. Pneumatic control circuits using this tube are validated under ISO 14743 for push-in fitting compatibility and ISO 6358:2013 for flow-rate characteristics. The formulation is 100 phr X7373; addition of process aids is limited to ≤0.2 wt% of a PA12-compatible lubricant only when extruding 4 mm OD tube at line speed above 80 m/min. Higher addition levels produce die lip plaque that alters outer diameter and reduces fitting retention force. Amine-based processing aids are avoided because basic nitrogen species shift the polyamide end-group equilibrium and can produce an uncontrolled viscosity rise at the die. The downstream process uses a single-screw extruder with 30:1 L/D, a melt pump, and a spiral coiling mandrel immediately after the vacuum calibration zone. Melt temperature is held at 210–225 °C, head pressure 15–20 MPa, and coiling mandrel rotation at 35–60 rpm sets the coil radius. Online wall-thickness measurement by ultrasonic gauge is required after coiling because the inner radius wall thickens during hot bending; acceptable eccentricity is ≤10%. Finished product types include precoiled tubes of 4 mm–12 mm OD with lengths of 10 m to 50 m per coil, used in CNC pneumatic manifolds, semiconductor packaging machines, and automotive assembly cells.
Subsea cable and umbilical sheath manufacturing lines utilize VESTAMID X7373 as a polyamide outer sheath where low-temperature flexibility, hydrolysis resistance, and fatigue endurance are specified for dynamic cable segments. The applicable cable qualification framework includes IEC 60092-350 for shipboard and offshore power and control cables and NEK TS 606 clauses covering thermoplastic sheathing compounds for deepwater dynamic service; project-specific testing often adds API 17E umbilical qualification requirements for crush resistance and seawater immersion. In this application the grade is processed at 100 phr as supplied; drying is mandatory to ≤0.06% moisture because sheath porosity in a seawater immersion environment leads to insulation resistance failure during spark testing. Regrind usage is restricted to ≤10 wt% and only from clean sheath scrap free of water-blocking yarn and mica tape. Cable sheathing extrusion is performed with a 30:1 L/D pressure screw designed for polyamide, with barrel temperatures from 200 °C at the feed to 230 °C at the crosshead, and a melt temperature before the screen pack of 225 °C. The melt passes through a 60/80/100 mesh screen pack and a pressure crosshead die, followed by hot-water cooling at 60 °C for 10 m and ambient air cooling to control jacket crystallinity; sheath thickness tolerance is maintained at ±0.15 mm. Finished products are outer sheaths for subsea control cables, ROV tether jackets, and umbilical outer covers with OD from 8 mm to 38 mm. Published data for this exact Vestamid grade in deepwater dynamic umbilical sheathing is limited; qualification therefore requires project-specific long-term seawater aging and fatigue trials rather than reliance on generic polyamide datasheets.
Electroplating and hot-dip galvanizing lines expose polymer fluid conduits to mixed chloride salts that cause rapid environmental stress cracking in PA6 and PA66 grades under load. VESTAMID X7373 is adopted in monolayer or two-layer industrial fluid lines where the known ZnCl₂ stress-cracking resistance of PA12 becomes the primary material selection criterion. Chemical resistance verification follows ISO 22088-3:2003 environmental stress cracking methods using a constant tensile load and immersion in 50 w/w% aqueous zinc chloride at 60 °C for 1000 h; dimensional and burst validation follows ISO 1167-1:2006 hydrostatic strength testing adapted for thermoplastic industrial pipe. The polymer phase is X7373 at 100 phr; if a coextruded outer layer is required for color coding or UV resistance, the inner X7373 layer is maintained at ≥75% of total wall to preserve chemical resistance. External plasticizer is not used because low-molecular-weight plasticizers exude into the brine and act as additional crack-nucleation sites. Extrusion on a 28:1 L/D single-screw line with melt temperature 220–240 °C and vacuum venting at −0.06 MPa is followed by cooling in water at 30–50 °C. Finished product types include rigid and semi-flexible fluid lines of 6 mm–20 mm OD, welded spool pieces for chemical dosing skids, and jacket tubing for sensor cables immersed in plating baths.
Corrugated PA12 conduit for rail transit and heavy machinery uses VESTAMID X7373 as the base polymer when a single-material corrugated tube must combine low-temperature impact, abrasion resistance, and tight ring-pitch consistency. Fire behavior compliance is not automatic with unfilled PA12, and the grade must be evaluated against EN 45545-2 requirement sets R22/R23 and NFPA 130 Chapter 8 surface flammability criteria before acceptance; many rail projects require an additional intumescent or phosphorus-based flame-retardant masterbatch because unfilled X7373 typically does not meet HL2 without modifiers. The base formulation is X7373 at 100 phr; flame-retardant masterbatch, when mandated, is compounded at 8–15 wt% only after rheology verification, because high-acid-number FR additives raise melt pressure and narrow the corrugator operating window. Precompounding of the FR masterbatch is performed on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with 40:1 L/D at 200–220 °C barrel profile to avoid pre-reaction of the phosphorus additive. The extrusion process uses a single-screw extruder with 30:1 L/D, melt temperature 200–230 °C, and a horizontal vacuum corrugator with vacuum set at −0.07 MPa to maintain ring depth and avoid ring collapse. Cooling water is maintained at 20 °C, and haul-off speed is synchronized to the corrugator mold chain to hold ring pitch tolerance at ±0.5 mm. Finished terminal products include corrugated flexible conduit with inner diameters of 10 mm–50 mm for rail vehicle roof cable runs, heavy equipment hydraulic harnesses, and mass-transit station cable management.
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Evonik Vestamid X7373 Nylon 12 is a plasticizer-free polyamide 12 extrusion compound supplied as black or natural pellets. It is characterized by a density of 1.01 g/cm3 measured under ISO 1183-1:2019 and a crystalline melt temperature of 176 °C determined by ISO 11357-3:2018. The polymer is based on ω-aminolauric acid or laurolactam chemistry, producing a semicrystalline structure with lower equilibrium moisture uptake than PA6 and PA66. Under ISO 62:2008, water absorption at 23 °C and 50 % RH is approximately 0.7 wt%, and saturation uptake is approximately 1.5 wt%. The grade is intended for monolayer and coextruded tubing, particularly in pneumatic, fuel-vapor, and low-pressure liquid-transfer systems where extraction resistance and low-temperature ductility are specified.
In a dehumidified hopper dryer, preconditioning at 80 °C for 4–6 h is required when moisture content exceeds 0.10 wt%, because residual water hydrolyzes amide linkages during processing and causes surface defects. The drying air should have a dew point below -30 °C. For single-screw extrusion lines with an L/D of 30:1 to 36:1, a barrier screw with compression ratio 2.5:1 to 3.0:1 and a mixing section is preferred. Temperature settings from feed throat to die typically follow a rising profile from 200 °C to 240 °C, with melt temperature measured by infrared pyrometer at the die entry held between 235 °C and 250 °C. The upper processing limit is 260 °C; sustained residence time above 10 min at that temperature leads to yellowing, viscosity loss, and die-lip deposit formation. Melt filtration through 40–60 mesh screens is typical in tubing operations to remove carbon black agglomerates from black masterbatch. In coextrusion with EVOH or PA6 barrier layers, individual melt streams must be rheologically matched within ±15 % apparent shear viscosity at the interface to avoid layer distortion. Spiral mandrel dies with 1.5–2.0 mm annular gaps are commonly used for multilayer tubing structures.
The primary commercial distinction is the removal of external plasticizer from the formulation. Plasticized PA12 grades typically contain 5–15 wt% benzenesulfonamide or related plasticizer to reduce hardness, but plasticizer migration can cause fogging, extraction under fuel contact, and loss of mechanical properties after thermal aging. Vestamid X7373 maintains ductility through molecular-weight control and backbone architecture rather than additive plasticization. Shore D hardness under ISO 868:2003 remains in the 60–65 range while nominal strain at break under ISO 527-2:2012 exceeds 200 %. Compared with unreinforced PA6 and PA66, the material has lower density, lower melt temperature, and lower moisture-induced dimensional change. Unlike PA11, which can be derived from castor oil, the petrochemical basis of this grade is conventional unless a mass-balance specification is requested. The material also differs from glass-fiber or mineral-filled Vestamid grades: no filler is present, so anisotropic shrinkage and tool wear are reduced, but flexural modulus is lower and the compound is not intended for load-bearing structural brackets.
| Property | Test method | Vestamid X7373 PA12 | Unreinforced PA6 | Unreinforced PA66 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1:2019 | 1.01 g/cm3 | 1.13 g/cm3 | 1.14 g/cm3 |
| Melt temperature | ISO 11357-3:2018 | 176 °C | 220 °C | 260 °C |
| Water absorption at saturation | ISO 62:2008 | 1.5 wt% | 9.5 wt% | 8.5 wt% |
| Tensile modulus, dry | ISO 527-2:2012 | 350–450 MPa | 2,800–3,200 MPa | 3,000–3,400 MPa |
| Tensile stress at yield | ISO 527-2:2012 | 36–42 MPa | 75–85 MPa | 80–90 MPa |
| Nominal strain at break | ISO 527-2:2012 | >200 % | 20–30 % | 15–25 % |
| Shore D hardness | ISO 868:2003 | 60–65 | 76–80 | 79–83 |
When tensile specimens are injection-molded in accordance with ISO 527-2:2012 type 1A and conditioned at 23 °C and 50 % RH, the tensile stress at yield is typically 38–42 MPa, elongation at yield is 5–7 %, and nominal strain at break exceeds 200 %. The tensile modulus measured between 0.05 % and 0.25 % strain falls in the range of 350–450 MPa, indicating high flexibility relative to engineering polyamides. Flexural modulus under ISO 178:2019 is typically 300–400 MPa for the same conditioning state. Charpy notched impact strength under ISO 179-1:2010 remains at 5–8 kJ/m2 at 23 °C. A ductile-to-brittle transition is not observed above -30 °C, and tubing impact requirements under SAE J844:2019 are typically met at -40 °C. Vicat softening temperature, method B50 under ISO 306:2022, is approximately 150 °C. Recrystallization temperature on cooling at 10 K/min is approximately 148 °C, which governs cooling-line length and dimensional stability during calibration.
Capillary rheometry at 230 °C shows pseudoplastic behavior. Apparent shear viscosity at 100 s-1 is approximately 1,200–1,800 Pa·s, although the exact value depends on moisture content and carbon black dispersion. Melt volume-flow rate measured under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 235 °C and 5 kg is commonly in the 5–15 cm3/10 min range for PA12 extrusion grades, with black versions typically 10–20 % lower because carbon black increases melt viscosity. The processing window is narrower than that of glass-reinforced PA12 because the unfilled melt is more prone to draw resonance at low line speeds. In tubing extrusion, a 1.0–1.2 mm die gap and draw-down ratio between 1.5:1 and 2.2:1 are used to maintain wall-thickness uniformity. Vacuum sizing from -0.15 bar to -0.30 bar gauge pressure is adequate for round tubing, and closed-loop ultrasonic wall-thickness measurement is recommended for ovality below 0.05 mm.
In chemical exposure, the semicrystalline PA12 matrix resists aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils, greases, and zinc chloride solutions relevant to underbody automotive environments. Resistance to zinc chloride stress cracking is evaluated under SAE J844:2019 by bending specimens around a radius mandrel and immersing them in 50 wt% aqueous zinc chloride at 50 °C for 200 h. The absence of external plasticizer reduces environmental stress cracking caused by plasticizer leaching. However, the material is incompatible with strong acids, formic acid, phenols, and polar chlorinated solvents at elevated temperature. Continuous exposure to methanol or ethanol blends above 15 vol% may cause swelling and increased permeation, so fuel-line validation must include the target oxygenated fuel mixture. After automotive oil ageing at 125 °C for 1,000 h, tensile strength retention generally exceeds 80 % when measured under ISO 527-2:2012, but published data for X7373 in aggressive bio-oil mixtures is limited.
For automotive fuel-vapor and liquid-fuel tubing, low extractable content is a critical boundary condition because plasticizer and oligomer migration into fuel contact can contribute to deposit formation in evaporative emissions canisters. When tested under SAE J2260:2018 or equivalent fuel permeation protocols, PA12-based systems balance hydrocarbon resistance and low-temperature flexibility. Published data for this specific X7373 configuration is limited, but lot-specific certificates commonly report total extractable content below 2.0 wt% by the manufacturer’s internal method. The grade is typically documented against REACH Regulation EC 1907/2006 and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU for lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE. In air-brake systems, the relevant performance specification is SAE J844:2019, which includes burst pressure, collapse resistance, low-temperature impact, and zinc chloride stress cracking. Fuel-line assemblies may invoke SAE J1645:2019 or vehicle-specific hydrocarbon permeation limits under CARB LEV III and EPA Tier 3. Verification against the current compliance statement is mandatory because carbon black grades and color masterbatches can alter extractables and odor.
| Domain | Reference standard | Typical application relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical properties | ISO 527-2:2012, ISO 179-1:2010 | Tensile, yield, and impact characterization for tube validation |
| Thermal identification | ISO 11357-3:2018, ISO 306:2022 | Melt temperature and Vicat softening verification |
| Moisture and chemical resistance | ISO 62:2008, SAE J2260:2018 | Water absorption and fuel-system permeation testing |
| Air brake tubing | SAE J844:2019 | Burst, collapse, low-temperature impact, and stress cracking |
| Fuel tubing | SAE J1645:2019, vehicle-specific standards | Hydrocarbon permeation and assembly performance |
| Environmental compliance | REACH EC 1907/2006, RoHS 2011/65/EU | Restricted-substance documentation and reporting |
The substitution of plasticizer-free PA12 into an existing air-brake tube extrusion line is not drop-in. Three process conflicts are observed in production. First, the melt may require higher melt pressure than plasticized equivalents because the absence of plasticizer raises apparent viscosity at equivalent temperature. A single-screw extruder with 30:1 L/D and screw speed above 80 rpm can produce die-entry melt temperatures above 250 °C if the screw is worn or if backpressure exceeds 200 bar. Second, plasticizer-free PA12 has a steeper modulus-temperature curve near its glass transition. Rapid cooling in a water trough set below 20 °C can freeze in residual stress and reduce low-temperature impact performance. Third, inline inkjet marking may show lower surface energy retention than with plasticized PA12. Surface flame treatment or plasma at 0.5–1.0 kW is typically required to achieve a dyne level above 40 mN/m before printing.
In fuel-line coextrusion, a tie-layer grade of maleic-anhydride-grafted PA12 or polyolefin is required to bond X7373 to EVOH barrier layers. Direct adhesion without tie resin is insufficient because PA12 and EVOH have different solubility parameters. Layer-thickness control must maintain the barrier layer at 50–100 μm to meet hydrocarbon permeation targets without sacrificing flexibility. In spiral mandrel dies, adjustment of the outer layer percentage from 30 % to 50 % shifts flexural stiffness and allowable bend radius. For 8 mm outside-diameter tubing, the recommended bend radius is generally 4–5 times outside diameter, but this should be validated by cold-flex testing under ISO 10619-2:2021 at -40 °C.
Although the grade is extrusion-focused, low-cavitation injection molding is possible when wall thickness exceeds 2.0 mm. Melt temperature should not exceed 255 °C, mold temperature should be 40–80 °C, and holding pressure profiles must compensate for high volumetric shrinkage. Weld-line strength is reduced in black grades, and gate location should be adjusted to prevent weld lines in pressure-bearing areas.
In post-extrusion converting, thermal and ultrasonic welding require dry surfaces. Moisture above 0.10 wt% produces steam porosity at the weld interface. Laser welding of black PA12 to natural PA12 is possible when the upper component transmits at 980 nm and the lower component is carbon black-loaded. The process window is governed by laser power, scan speed, and clamping pressure. Published data for X7373 in laser-welded assemblies is limited; weld strength should be verified destructively by burst testing or tensile testing under ISO 527-1:2019. In storage, opened pellet containers should be resealed when relative humidity exceeds 60 % RH; if exposure occurs, drying is mandatory before re-introduction to the extruder.
