Tough, precise, and reliable. Nylon PA12 Glass Filled is engineered for demanding projects.
Stratasys Direct is proud to add SAF Nylon PA12 GF to its SAF material portfolio, further expanding the capabilities of powder bed fusion technology. Built for challenging applications, this 40% glass bead-filled material offers a unique combination of stiffness, heat resistance, and dimensional stability, setting it apart from existing options in the SAF material lineup.
Glass bead reinforcement is a common practice in injection molding and other traditional manufacturing processes for improving material performance. Blending glass beads with Nylon 12 polymer changes the overall performance of the material, leveraging the complementary properties of glass and polymers. Glass is stiff and heat resistant, while Nylon 12 provides toughness and processibility. Combined, you get a higher temperature performance composite that can tackle the most challenging applications.
SAF PA12GF delivers measurable improvements in tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and heat deflection temperature compared to other SAF materials.
Modulus, an important measure of material stiffness, indicates how well a material will resist deformation under stress. Tensile modulus refers to stiffness when stretched, while flexural modulus measures stiffness when the material is bent. Since glass does not bend or stretch, Nylon PA12 GF provides great rigidity to 3D-printed parts, as shown in the graph below.
When comparing the heat deflection properties of SAF materials, it is important to understand the heat deflection test (HDT). The heat deflection test measures the temperature at which a material deforms under a specified load. A sample is placed under constant stress, either 66 psi or 264 psi and gradually heated until it bends a certain amount, indicating its heat resistance. The temperature the sample has bent to the last amount is recorded.
For semi-crystalline thermoplastics, the HDT at 66 psi is very close to the melting temperature of the material. For example, PA11 has the highest melting temperature, so it has the highest HDT at 66 psi. However, this test represents only light loading conditions. For a test at 264 psi, Nylon PA12 GF is the highest-performing SAF material by far, due to the glass beads providing extra stability at elevated temperatures. This makes it an excellent choice for applications requiring strength and performance under significant heat and stress.
One huge benefit of adding glass beads to Nylon PA12 is that it reduces the overall shrinkage of the material. During the SAF 3D printing process, each layer of the part is heated above the polymer’s melting temperature and later cooled, transitioning from liquid to solid. While standard Nylon 12 materials typically shrink 3-4% during this phase, Glass-filled Nylon PA12 shrinks significantly less, ensuring improved dimensional accuracy for parts.
To evaluate the dimensional performance on Nylon PA12 GF, engineers at Stratasys Direct measured over dimensional 3000 data points to determine the tolerances. The dimensions measured ranged from only 0.050” to 7 inches, in X, Y, and Z orientations. The tolerances of 0.010” or 0.002 inch-per-inch, whichever is larger, were determined.
This exceptional precision stems from a combination of the inherent consistency of the SAF process and the reduced shrinkage provided by the 40% glass bead composition. The material’s dimensional reliability ensures it means the demands of tight tolerances for complex designs and makes it an optimal choice for high-accuracy applications, as summarized below:
Nylon PA12 GF is highly versatile and is an excellent option for a wide range of applications. The material’s high-dimensional performance and its accelerated lead time make it ideal for functional prototyping. The material’s strength and stability enable it to stand up to rigorous pre-commercialization testing, ensuring prototypes meet performance expectations under real-world conditions.
One key example is the creation of functional housing prototypes which demand durability and precision. Nylon PA12 GF excels in these types of components, combining its excellent mechanical properties with the efficiency of the SAF process.
The other functional part shown is a hinge that has been dyed black and used within a Stratasys Direct facility. When a load-bearing hinge for our breakout equipment broke, we needed stiff, durable material that we could quickly manufacture to replace the broken piece. Nylon PA12 GF proved to be an ideal solution. The replacement hinge has been in use for 6 months and continues to perform as expected.
Nylon PA12 GF’s high heat deflection and exceptional durability make it an excellent choice for industries requiring high-performance materials, such as automotive. With a heat deflection temperature over 100 °C at 264 psi, Nylon PA12 GF is ideal for applications like coolant hose brackets. The part shown demonstrates how SAF can build complex, support-free geometries, enabling innovative designs that can be used to hold tubing.
Nylon PA12 Glass Filled offers the strength, stiffness, and heat resistance needed for demanding applications, making it a reliable choice for functional prototypes and end-use parts. With the precision of SAF technology, this material delivers consistent quality and performance, ideal for industries like automotive and beyond. Don’t settle for less when it comes to durable, high-performance 3D printing. Try SAF Nylon PA12 GF on your next project and see what you can accomplish.
