PA12 (Nylon 12)

PA12

Among long-chain nylons, PA12 has significant advantages over other nylon materials. These advantages include the lowest water absorption, lowest density, low melting point, high impact resistance, excellent wear resistance, low-temperature resistance, fuel resistance, dimensional stability, and good noise reduction.

PA12 has low water absorption, excellent low-temperature performance, good gas barrier properties, excellent alkali and oil resistance, moderate resistance to alcohols and dilute inorganic acids, as well as aromatic hydrocarbons. It also has good mechanical and electrical properties.

Features:

• Low Density: The specific gravity of PA12 is only 1.01-1.03, the lowest among all engineering plastics. When compared by unit volume, PA12 offers advantages in both price and performance.
• Low Water Absorption: One of the biggest drawbacks of nylon products is their high water absorption, which makes it difficult to maintain dimensional stability. PA12 has the lowest water absorption rate among nylon products, ensuring excellent dimensional stability due to its low amide group content.
• High Impact Strength: PA12 shows no breakage when tested at -30°C and -40°C, fully meeting usage requirements. PA12 exhibits excellent impact resistance.
• Low-Temperature Resistance: PA12 has a very low brittle temperature of -70°C, making it suitable for low-temperature components.
• Flexibility: The effect of plasticizers on PA12 mainly manifests in the elastic modulus of the resin. There are three basic types of PA12 resins, differing primarily in flexibility based on varying plasticizer content. As the extractable component content of plasticizers increases, the elastic modulus of the resin decreases.
• Wear Resistance: PA12 has excellent low-wear and low-friction properties, as well as self-lubricating characteristics, resulting in minimal friction noise.
• Fuel Resistance: Many hose materials degrade when exposed to oxygenated fuels, high-aromatic fuels, and alcohol blends used in vehicles. Only PA11, PA12, and fluorocarbon elastomers can withstand these conditions. Other types of nylon swell and change dimensions under automotive fuel exposure.
• Zinc Chloride Solution Resistance: PA12 has strong resistance to zinc chloride solutions. Due to the absence of unsaturated double bonds that are susceptible to ozone attack, PA12 does not experience ozone aging issues and also exhibits excellent UV resistance.
• Excellent Electrical Properties: The long carbon chain structure of PA12 provides it with superior electrical properties. Because of its low water absorption, PA12 maintains excellent dielectric properties even in humid environments, a characteristic not shared by short carbon chain nylons like Nylon 6 and Nylon 66.

Applications:

1. Automotive Industry:

PA12 can be widely used in automotive fluid delivery lines, including fuel lines, clutch lines, vacuum brake booster lines, air brake lines, battery coolant lines, and their connectors. It is an excellent lightweight material for automotive applications due to its safety and reliability.

2. Pipeline and Cable:

PA12 has been used for years in flexible risers, gas pipes, liners, and steel pipe coatings on land and offshore. It prevents erosion from seawater and corrosion from fluids, making it suitable for flexible risers conveying subsea oil and gas products and natural gas distribution systems up to 20 bar pressure. PA12's low brittleness temperature and excellent weather resistance make it ideal for manufacturing outdoor special-purpose communication cables for all-climate (-50 to 70°C) use.

3. 3D Printing:

Compared to other materials, PA12 powder has high flowability, low electrostatic charge, low water absorption, moderate melting point, and high dimensional accuracy. Its fatigue resistance and toughness meet the needs of parts requiring higher mechanical properties, making PA12 an ideal material for 3D printing of engineering plastics.

4. Medical:

PA12 is used in medical care materials, particularly for catheter materials where mechanical properties are crucial. Catheters must be easy to thread but not bend or break. PA12 offers high burst pressure, flexibility, chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, meeting FDA and EU medical product requirements, making it an excellent material for catheter production.

5. Consumer Goods:

PA12's excellent fatigue resistance and paint-free properties make it suitable for eyeglass frames.

6. Advanced Coatings and Adhesives:

PA12-coated metal surfaces have the best wear resistance, making it ideal for advanced coatings and adhesives. It can be used in dishwasher racks to ensure durability in high-temperature detergent environments and extend service life. It is also applied to outdoor furniture, such as park benches, to prevent metal corrosion after coating with PA12.

 

Physical Properties	Test condition	Test Methods	Attribute value	Test unit
Density			1.01