| HS Code | 228222 |
| Material Type | Polyamide 12 (PA12) with glass fiber reinforcement |
| Color | White |
| Bulk Density | 0.49 g/cm³ |
| Particle Size D50 | 50 µm |
| Melting Point | 178 °C |
| Part Density | 1.15 g/cm³ |
| Tensile Modulus | 3200 MPa |
| Tensile Strength | 48 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 6% |
| Flexural Modulus | 3000 MPa |
| Flexural Strength | 70 MPa |
| Charpy Impact Strength Notched | 5 kJ/m² |
As an accredited Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 Powder for Laser Sintering factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Supplied as a 10 kg sealed container of fine powder, ensuring dry, stable conditions for laser sintering applications. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: powder in sealed drums on pallets, securely braced, ventilated, labeled for non-hazardous laser sintering material. |
| Shipping | Ship Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 as a sealed, moisture-resistant powder in grounded containers to prevent static buildup. Avoid ignition sources, excessive heat, and airborne dust, as the material is a combustible dust. Store upright in a dry area during transport; no hazardous goods designation is typically required for standard ground shipment. |
| Storage | Store in original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, ideally between 15–25°C. Protect from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, sparks, and open flames. Keep away from strong oxidizers and foodstuffs. Avoid dust accumulation and static discharge. Under these conditions, shelf life is typically 12 months from date of manufacture. |
| Shelf Life | Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 powder typically has a shelf life of 12 months when stored unopened in a cool, dry environment. |
Powder-bed fusion service bureaus processing Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 for low-volume engine bay bracketry typically qualify the powder on CO₂ laser sintering platforms running 100–120 µm layer thickness and 60–100 W nominal laser power, with build chamber set-points held between 165 °C and 178 °C to reduce part curl and filler segregation. The powder is supplied as a ready-to-use single-component system; downstream addition ratio therefore refers to the virgin/recovered powder blend, not to compounding. In this automotive segment, compliance is managed through IATF 16949:2016 supporting documentation for production part approvals, with material characterization reports referencing ISO 527-2:2012 for tensile modulus and ISO 75-2:2013 Method A for heat deflection temperature at 1.80 MPa; EC 1907/2006 Article 33 declarations are supplied for REACH SVHC traceability, and 2011/65/EU Annex II screening applies where the bracket assembly is integrated into an electrical/electronic system. The recommended downstream addition ratio is 35–50 wt% virgin powder blended with recovered PA12-GFX 2550 from previous builds; below 35 wt% virgin powder, production records from service bureaus indicate increased edge warpage and surface pitting on flat sealing faces. Downstream processing includes breakout at ambient temperature, glass-bead blasting with 0.2–0.5 mm media at 4–6 bar, oven stabilization at 120–140 °C for 60–120 min, and threaded insert installation using ultrasonic insertion equipment. Terminal product types include charge-air pipe support brackets, ECU cooling duct flanges, wire harness guides, and low-volume replacement brackets for discontinued OEM tooling.
| Parameter | Standard / method | Application boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ISO 527-2:2012 / ASTM D638-14 | XY-oriented dogbone specimens only |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178:2019 | span-to-thickness ratio 16:1 |
| Heat deflection temperature | ISO 75-2:2013 Method A | 1.80 MPa flexural stress |
| Part density | ISO 1183-1:2019 | sintered, bead-blasted parts |
| REACH declaration | EC 1907/2006 Article 33 | SVHC screening on request |
| RoHS applicability | 2011/65/EU Annex II | electrical/electronic bracket assemblies only |
CNC fixture engineers replacing machined aluminum or acetal jigs with Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 record the primary conflict as a trade-off between clamp load distribution and tensile anisotropy across the XY and Z axes. Qualification data on glass-filled PA12 SLS materials show Z-axis tensile strength 25–40% lower than XY values when tested to ASTM D638-14, but measured anisotropy depends on build orientation, hatch spacing, and energy density. This delta becomes operationally relevant on hydraulic fixtures sustaining 6–10 kN clamping forces. Compliance in this application is governed by ISO 9001:2015 for the fixture manufacturing cell and, where the fixture contacts CNC-machined aerospace parts, AS9100D clauses for control of nonconforming products. The powder refresh ratio documented in fixture service centers is commonly 40–50 wt% virgin material; below this band, recovered powder lots increase the frequency of brittle failures at tapped holes and counterbored clamping pads, especially when the fixture wall thickness drops below 2.5 mm. Downstream production involves build chamber pre-heat stabilization until the infrared bed temperature gradient is below 3 °C across a 300 mm build plate, laser scanning with 0.15–0.20 mm beam offset compensation for X/Y growth, breakout at ambient temperature to reduce thermal shock, reaming of dowel holes to H7 tolerance, and helical insert heat staking at 180–200 °C measured at the insert tip. Terminal product types include CMM holding fixtures, assembly jig base plates, pallet locating nests, and spindle tool-setting brackets; published wear-rate data for high-frequency clamping cycles beyond 100,000 cycles is limited, so fixture validation remains application-specific.
On packaging and palletizing lines, robot integrators build vacuum gripper bodies and pick-and-place nests from Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 because machined aluminum tooling exceeds mass limits when robot payload ratings fall below 15 kg. The material's lower ductility relative to unfilled PA12 imposes strict minimum wall thickness requirements: field data from integrators show 1.2 mm walls fracture during rapid robot acceleration above 2.5 m/s², whereas 2.0 mm walls with 3.0 mm internal fillet radii survive 500,000 cycles without crack initiation. Compliance references ISO 10218-2:2011 for robot system integration, but material validation uses ISO 178:2019 flexural modulus and ISO 75-2:2013 heat deflection at 1.80 MPa for washdown environments. The recommended powder refresh ratio is 45–55 wt% virgin powder; internal vacuum channels are built with 0.8–1.0 mm printed wall thickness and sealed with two-part epoxy after glass-bead blasting because low-virgin blends produce microvoids that leak under −0.6 bar vacuum. Downstream production includes orientation of the gripping face along the XY build plane, post-build annealing at 130 °C for 2 h, face milling or abrasive lapping to a flatness tolerance of 0.05 mm per 100 mm, and threading for pneumatic fittings using helical inserts installed with torque-controlled pneumatic drivers. Terminal product types include vacuum gripper plates, modular tool changer adapter frames, proximity sensor mounts, and end-stop brackets used on six-axis robots.
Unmanned aerial vehicle gimbal bracket programs require low-mass structural components that survive random vibration testing without the cost of machined titanium; production teams therefore process Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 into gimbal plates and antenna mounts on mid-frame powder-bed fusion systems with chamber temperatures maintained at 168–176 °C and layer thickness 100 µm. The compliance package for this segment is governed by AS9100D for the contract manufacturer's production process, with tensile property acceptance referencing ASTM D638-14 and ASTM D648-16 for heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa to account for high-altitude heating from enclosed avionics. The specified downstream addition ratio is 40–50 wt% virgin powder to reduce pore-linked fatigue crack initiation in thin gimbal webs; recovered powder used above 60 wt% has been associated with localized delamination at layer boundaries during sine-sweep testing from 5 Hz to 500 Hz. Downstream processing for UAV structural parts includes support removal with brass tools to avoid surface chipping, dimpled washer face surfacing by CNC fly-cutting, black dyeing in 195 °C dye baths preceded by forced hot-air drying at 80 °C for 4 h, and thread insertion with stainless steel helical inserts. Terminal product types include gimbal pitch-bracket arms, antenna mast adapters, pitot-static probe mounts, and camera isolation frames. Published data for in-flight fire resistance of this specific glass-filled PA12 configuration is limited; the material is not qualified as a cabin interior material under 14 CFR 25.853 unless additional fire testing is carried out on final part assemblies.
Motorsport wiring harness brackets require torque retention, chemical resistance to transmission and brake fluids, and dimensional stability after heat cycling; glass-filled PA12 sintered parts are selected when the bracket is not exposed to continuous service above 120 °C. Process qualification in this segment commonly follows ISO 9001:2015 for low-volume production, with flammability characterization performed to UL 94 on 1.5 mm specimens built in the same orientation as the bracket; because surface roughness affects flammability test outcomes, test coupons are bead-blasted identically to final parts rather than polished. The powder refresh ratio is set at 50–60 wt% virgin material for thin-walled harness clips, because recycled powder from tall builds contains glass-fiber-rich particles that reduce elongation and cause clip arm breakage during harness insertion. Downstream production uses XY orientation for snap-fit arms, minimum 1.8 mm arm thickness, laser contour scans at 2500–3500 mm/s depending on machine wattage, and post-build annealing at 130 °C for 90 min to stabilize dimensions before rivet nut installation. Terminal product types include engine bay harness brackets, brake reservoir flange spacers, connector backshell adapters, and fuel rail protector brackets. The primary boundary condition is thermal: sustained exposure above 125 °C can reduce retention torque in heat-staked inserts; no verified industrial dataset exists for retained torque above that threshold, so qualification must be repeated on final part geometry.
Pharmaceutical packaging lines and diagnostics manufacturers use Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 for assembly fixtures that require high stiffness under repeated loading and dimensional stability through low-temperature hydrogen peroxide or dry heat exposure up to 100 °C. The relevant compliance boundary is ISO 13485:2016 for the device manufacturer's quality system, with fixture validation drawing on ISO 178:2019 flexural modulus data and ISO 75-2:2013 HDT values; the material is not supplied with a biocompatibility statement, so direct patient-contact or implantable components fall outside the documented application envelope. Downstream addition ratio is typically 40–45 wt% virgin powder, with the lower bound intended to preserve locating feature accuracy after multiple builds; higher recovered ratios above 55 wt% show statistically significant part growth variability of 0.08–0.12 mm across 150 mm fixture spans. Production processing includes chamber cooling below 60 °C before breakout; thick support slabs are removed manually using delamination wedges and rotary bur cleanup because water-jet removal may cause glass-fiber pull-out. Terminal product types include assembly nests for diagnostic cassettes, test tube rack bases, vision system calibration targets, and non-sterile diagnostic device enclosure prototypes. Cleaning validation on production fixtures should use 70% isopropyl alcohol or peracetic acid solutions compatible with glass-filled PA12, followed by forced-air drying at 60 °C for 30 min before return to service.
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Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 powder for laser sintering is a glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide 12 feedstock formulated for polymer powder bed fusion systems using CO₂ laser sources near 10.6 µm. The model designation identifies a PA12 matrix with a nominal glass-fiber loading in the 25 wt% class and a median particle size class near 50 µm; the supplier certificate of analysis remains the controlling document for batch-specific fiber content, particle size distribution, and moisture content. The material is specified where unfilled PA12 laser sintering grades show insufficient creep resistance, flexural stiffness, or dimensional stability under sustained mechanical load.
The powder is supplied as a free-flowing blend of near-spherical PA12 particles and short glass fibers. Bulk density for glass-filled PA12 powders commonly falls in the 0.50–0.60 g/cm³ range, with tapped density approximately 0.60–0.70 g/cm³. Flow through a recoat system is more sensitive to electrostatic charge than unfilled PA12, particularly when relative humidity falls below 30% RH. Pre-drying at 80 °C for 4–6 h is recommended when stored powder has been exposed to humidity above 60% RH; target moisture content before laser sintering is below 0.1% by mass. Moisture content should be verified by Karl Fischer titration or the supplier’s loss-on-drying method.
On production-scale PBF-LS systems with 100 W CO₂ lasers and 120 µm layer thickness, glass-fiber loading shifts the processing window relative to unfilled PA12. The glass fibers raise the effective thermal conductivity of the powder bed, removing heat from the melt zone more rapidly and reducing interlayer fusion when parameters are copied directly from unfilled PA12 profiles. A practical starting condition is to hold the build chamber at the upper end of the PA12 recrystallization range, typically 168–175 °C, and to maintain the feed hopper temperature 5–10 °C below the build chamber setpoint to preserve powder flow. Recoater speed may need to be limited to 80–100 mm/s when used-powder content exceeds 40%. Production-scale failure modes at higher recoater speed include short feed, powder bridging across the hopper throat, and part-edge curl leading to recoater collision.
Volumetric energy density for glass-filled PA12 is commonly raised 5–15% above unfilled PA12 parameters to compensate for higher thermal losses. The adjustment is implemented by increasing laser power or reducing scan spacing rather than by reducing scan speed alone, because excessive beam dwell at low scan speed can oxidize the PA12 matrix and generate visible smoke. A bed surface temperature deviation of ±2 °C is sufficient to alter curl behavior on thin unsupported sections. A 3×3 density coupon array is used to map the viable energy density window across the build platform. Acceptable sintered part density for glass-filled PA12 is typically 1.20–1.30 g/cm³, depending on glass content and void fraction; unfilled PA12 parts commonly fall near 1.25–1.35 g/cm³.
Glass reinforcement raises tensile and flexural modulus while reducing elongation at break. A 25 wt% glass-filled PA12 class typically exhibits tensile modulus in the 3500–5000 MPa range when tested under ISO 527-1/-2, whereas unfilled PA12 normally falls near 1600–1900 MPa. Elongation at break drops from 15–20% for unfilled PA12 to 2–4% for glass-filled grades. This change requires different design rules for snap-fit features and high-strain applications; brittle failure can occur before visible yielding in constrained geometries.
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion is also reduced in the build plane. Unfilled PA12 can exhibit CLTE values near 100–120 µm/m·K; glass-filled PA12 typically falls in the 40–60 µm/m·K range depending on fiber orientation and measurement plane under ISO 11359-2. The lower CLTE improves dimensional accuracy in moderate thermal cycling but does not eliminate anisotropy. In the Z direction, tensile properties are generally lower than in the XY plane because interlayer cohesion is the limiting mechanism.
Glass fiber differs from carbon fiber and mineral fillers in electrical and tribological behavior. Glass fiber is electrically insulating and therefore suitable where surface resistivity must remain high; carbon-fiber-filled PA12 is dissipative and may interfere with electronic assembly environments. Glass fiber is less abrasive than carbon fiber on recoater blades and powder handling components, although it still increases wear relative to unfilled PA12. Compared with mineral-filled PA12, glass fiber provides higher aspect ratio reinforcement and greater modulus improvement per unit loading but also greater directional anisotropy.
Recycled powder management for glass-filled PA12 is more constrained than for unfilled PA12. Unfilled PA12 production commonly uses used-powder refresh rates of 40–60%; glass-filled PA12 lines often limit recycled material to 30–40% to preserve mechanical properties and recoating consistency. Repeated exposure to build chamber heat increases polyamide oxidation and fiber-matrix interface degradation. The observed production line results are a decline in notched Charpy impact strength, increased yellowing, and reduced dry flow leading to short feed defects.
Moisture exposure compounds the effect. PA12 absorbs 0.25–0.50% moisture by mass at equilibrium depending on relative humidity. Drying at 80 °C in a desiccant or vacuum dryer until moisture is below 0.1% is standard. Drying above 100 °C is generally avoided because the powder surface can soften and agglomerate, particularly with glass fiber present.
The following class-level comparison is based on industrial data for unfilled and glass-filled PA12 laser sintering powders. Product-specific values for Prodways PA12-GFX 2550 must be taken from the supplier product data sheet or from qualification coupons printed on the target machine. The table is not a batch guarantee.
| Property | Standard | Unfilled PA12 | Glass-Filled PA12 Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-1/-2 | 1600–1900 MPa | 3500–5000 MPa |
| Tensile strength | ISO 527-1/-2 | 45–50 MPa | 55–70 MPa |
| Elongation at break | ISO 527-1/-2 | 15–20% | 2–4% |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178 | 1400–1800 MPa | 3000–4500 MPa |
| Notched Charpy impact | ISO 179-1/1eA | 3–5 kJ/m² | 4–6 kJ/m² |
| HDT B | ISO 75-2 | 80–90 °C | 140–160 °C |
Mechanical values are orientation-dependent. Test specimens built in the XY plane usually exhibit the highest tensile properties, while the Z direction shows lower tensile strength and elongation because of incomplete interlayer fusion. For glass-filled PA12, the drop in elongation at break occurs in all build orientations. Stress-concentration features such as internal threads should therefore be evaluated using the selected build orientation and not by isotropic assumptions.
In service environments where glass-filled PA12 parts are exposed to light oil, mechanical vibration, or moderate thermal cycling, the material is selected primarily because the glass fiber reduces creep and thermal expansion rather than because of surface aesthetics. The as-built surface is generally rougher than unfilled PA12, and post-processing is included in the manufacturing sequence for dimensionally critical interfaces.
Laser-sintered glass-filled PA12 parts can retain interlayer and gas-induced porosity. The matrix melting process around glass fiber interfaces creates local void nucleation. If a component must hold air or fluid pressure, the as-sintered surface is usually not leak-tight without sealing. Vacuum impregnation with methacrylate or anaerobic sealants is commonly used and may add 0.5–2.0% to part mass depending on porosity. A wall thickness of at least 2–3 mm is recommended for low-pressure air below 1 bar after sealing. Published product-specific leak-rate data for GFX 2550 is limited; qualification testing by pressure decay or differential pressure is required for fluid-containing prototypes.
PA12 and glass-filled PA12 parts are generally limited to continuous service below 80–100 °C depending on load and oxidative environment. Long-term thermal aging evaluations may be conducted using UL 746B relative thermal index methods; product-specific RTI data for GFX 2550 may be limited. At 100 °C for 500 h, glass-filled PA12 can undergo post-crystallization and oxidative embrittlement, further reducing elongation at break. Darkened surface color and reduced Charpy impact are early indicators of over-temperature exposure. HDT B values above 140 °C should not be interpreted as continuous service temperatures.
Laser-sintered glass-filled PA12 surfaces are rougher than unfilled PA12 unless post-processed. Arithmetic mean roughness values commonly remain in the 8–15 µm range depending on layer thickness and particle size distribution. Exposed glass fibers at the surface can abrade tooling and produce a dull gray or off-white appearance. Surfaces can be smoothed by vibratory finishing, but the abrasive character of glass fiber may require ceramic media instead of polymer media.
Dimensional inspection of GFX 2550 components should follow conditioning according to ISO 291 or ASTM D618 after sintering and cooling. Because PA12 absorbs atmospheric moisture, dimensions can shift by a few tenths of a percent between dry as-built and conditioned states. Chemical resistance is governed by the PA12 matrix; the material resists oils, greases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and many salt solutions but is attacked by strong acids, phenolic compounds, and some chlorinated solvents. Compatibility with a specific service fluid should be tested under ISO 175 or ASTM D543.
In powder bed fusion of glass-filled PA12, shrinkage behavior is anisotropic. XY shrinkage is constrained by glass fibers and can be lower than unfilled PA12; Z shrinkage is controlled by layer consolidation and may vary by 0.2–0.5% depending on build height. Separate XY and Z scale factors are required in build preparation software. Without separate compensation, hole diameters and assembly interfaces can be undersized or oversized, particularly in thick sections where thermal gradients persist. For a reference length of 100 mm, a 0.3% deviation corresponds to 300 µm, which exceeds typical assembly tolerance bands for rigid mating parts.
GFX 2550 parts can be drilled, tapped, and turned using carbide tooling. Glass fiber abrasion accelerates cutting edge wear relative to unfilled PA12, so spindle speeds and feed rates should follow supplier recommendations for reinforced thermoplastics. Heat generation at the tool interface can exceed 100 °C, causing local melting and smear; compressed air or coolant is recommended. Tapped holes smaller than M4 are prone to thread stripping because of low elongation at break and interlayer boundaries; threaded metal inserts or helical inserts are preferred for repeated assembly.
Vibratory finishing with ceramic media at amplitude 1.5–2.5 mm and frequency 30–50 Hz can reduce surface roughness by 20–40%, but aggressive media may expose additional glass fibers and create a fuzzy surface. Glass-bead blasting is effective for surface homogenization without removing significant material, although the surface may remain slightly porous.
| Regulatory or Standard Item | Designation | Relevant Scope |
|---|---|---|
| REACH regulation | EC 1907/2006 | Registration status of PA12 and glass fiber constituents |
| RoHS Directive | EU 2011/65/EU | Restricted substances in electrical/electronic end-use |
| Medical material screening | ISO 10993-1 | Supplier testing only; not a regulatory clearance |
| Flammability classification | UL 94 HB | Classified on supplier datasheet for solid plastic |
| Glass fiber content by ashing | ISO 1172 | Verification of nominal fiber loading |
| Part density verification | ISO 1183-1 | Density and void fraction evaluation |
Compliance documentation is supplied by the material manufacturer. The user is responsible for verifying that the supplied documents match the specific lot and that downstream coatings, sealants, or assembly processes do not alter the regulatory status of the finished component.
Unopened containers should be stored at 15–30 °C and below 60% RH in the manufacturer’s sealed packaging. Once opened, the powder should be kept in a closed handling system or returned to airtight storage after sieving. Aerated storage at 80% RH can raise moisture content to 0.5% within 24 h, degrading laser sintering surface quality. Each lot should be documented with supplier batch number, glass fiber content by ashing, particle size distribution, and moisture content. Without batch traceability, troubleshooting of out-of-spec mechanical properties is unreliable because recycled and virgin powder mixtures can mask contamination events.
