Material comparison
The workhorse of powder bed printing: durable, lightweight functional parts with no supports. A nylon made from castor oil; more flexible and impact resistant than PA12. So which one is right for your project? Compare the values, strengths and weaknesses side by side.
Polyamide 12 powder (SLS / MJF)
PA12 is the most widely used material in SLS and MJF. It offers balanced strength, toughness and chemical resistance, with lower moisture absorption than PA6. Since it needs no supports, complex, nested and moving parts can be printed in one go.
Bio-based polyamide 11 powder
PA11 is a bio-based nylon made from renewable castor oil. It offers higher elongation and impact strength than PA12, making it suitable for clips, hinges and parts that are repeatedly bent or take impacts.
Values
| Property | PA12 (Nylon 12) | PA11 (Nylon 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1 g/cm³ | 1.05 g/cm³ |
| Tensile strength | 48 MPa | 52 MPa |
| Elongation at break | 18 % | 45 % |
| Modulus (stiffness) | 1.7 GPa | 1.7 GPa |
| Heat deflection (0.45 MPa) | 165 °C | 182 °C |
Decision
Good to know
In terms of tensile strength, PA12 (Nylon 12) (48 MPa) and PA11 (Nylon 11) (52 MPa) are close.
PA11 (Nylon 11) is more heat resistant: 182 °C, versus 165 °C for PA12 (Nylon 12).
Both materials are similarly easy to produce.
Price levels are similar; the exact price depends on the part and quantity.
Tell us the operating conditions; let's decide together which of the two fits, or find a better alternative.