Nylon PA12: Ideal for High-Performance 3D Printing Materials
4 min
Nylon PA 12 is one of the most widely used materials in the additive manufacturing industry. Known for its excellent chemical resistance, durability, and mechanical properties, it has become the first choice for producing strong and practical parts. This article describes the main characteristics, benefits, and applications of Nylon PA 12.
JLC3DP Nylon PA12 printing products
Nylon PA 12, also known as Nylon 12, is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer. The "12" in its name refers to the twelve carbon atoms present in its molecular structure. As a thermoplastic, Nylon 12 has a melting point of about 175°C, the lowest among nylon polymers, making it highly adaptable to various 3D printing processes. While Nylon 12 can be used in different 3D printing technologies such as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF).
In SLS printing, Nylon PA 12 is available in fine powder form. The printing process involves laying a thin layer of powder on a build platform, and a laser selectively binds the powder particles together to form the desired shape. The resulting parts have a granular surface, but can be easily finished by painting, dipping, coating or sandblasting.
Related article: 3201-PA-F Nylon Material: High-Performance Part Manufacturing with SLS
In Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) printing, nylon PA 12 is also available in powder form. Unlike SLS, MJF does not use a laser to fuse the material. A fusing agent and detailing agent are deposited onto the powder layer through a set of inkjet-like print heads. The fusing agent helps absorb infrared energy, while the detailing agent improves resolution and edge definition. An infrared heat source then passes through the layer, selectively melting and fusing the powder material to form the part.
Advantages of Nylon PA 12
1. Suitable for complex and detailed parts
One of the outstanding features of nylon PA 12 in SLS printing is its ability to create complex designs without support structures. Support structures often limit design flexibility and are difficult to remove, especially from small and detailed areas. The minimum wall thickness supported by JLC3DP printing with Nylon PA 12 material is 1 mm, which can meet most design needs.
2. High strength and flexibility
Nylon 12 is well known for its mechanical properties. It has a tensile strength of 48 MPa and an elongation at break of 20%. This means that the material does not crack when under pressure, but bends first and then breaks, making it very durable and impact-resistant.
3. Excellent chemical resistance
Nylon 12 has excellent resistance to a variety of chemicals, including aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils, greases, and alkaline substances. This makes it an excellent choice for applications that require exposure to harsh environments or chemical interactions.
4. Dimensional stability and durability
Due to its low moisture absorption, Nylon 12 maintains dimensional stability even under humidity fluctuations. This property ensures that parts remain reliable over a long period of time, making it an ideal choice for safety-critical applications. In addition, it has good wear resistance and maintains strength even in sub-zero temperatures. However, prolonged exposure to UV rays may cause discoloration, which can be prevented with an anti-UV coating.
Application of Nylon PA 12
As an excellent material for 3D printing of engineering plastics, Nylon PA12 is widely used in various industries. Some of its main applications include:
Automobile and aerospace fields: In the automotive and aerospace industries, nylon PA12 is widely used to manufacture complex functional parts due to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. These parts require high strength, low weight, and long-term stability under extreme conditions.
Consumer and industrial products: Nylon PA12 is often used to manufacture complex parts in various consumer and industrial products, especially those that require high durability and precision. Many custom parts for electronic products are printed using nylon PA12, and its high precision and strength enable the printed parts to effectively withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
Medical industry: The high biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of nylon PA12 allow it to be used in the field of medical devices, such as the manufacture of surgical instruments, prosthetics, etc.
Choose JLC3DP's Nylon PA12 3D Printing Service
If you are looking for high-quality PA12 Nylon 3D printing services, JLC3DP provides you with professional MJF printing technology to ensure high-precision and high-strength printing results. JLC3DP has advanced 3D printing equipment and rich industry experience to meet the needs from rapid prototyping to mass production. Visit the inquiry page now for more details and experience high-quality 3D printing services!
Keep Learning
Best 3D Printing Filament Dry Boxes 2026 & DIY Tips
Is your filament betraying you? If your prints are stringy, brittle, or making weird popping noises mid-print, it might not be your slicer settings, it could be moisture. That’s where a 3D printer filament dry box saves the day.Whether you're printing PLA in a humid room or tackling Nylon and TPU, a dry box helps prevent moisture damage and ensures consistent, high-quality prints. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about filament dry boxes, including why they matter, how to make on......
Is MJF Suitable for Production Parts? A Practical Engineer’s Guide
Why Engineers Choose MJF for Production Parts MJF didn’t rise just as a prototyping machine. It climbed straight into real manufacturing. The making of HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printed parts uses a fine-grained nylon powder fused with a chemical fusing agent and precision infrared heating. That means consistent, repeatable parts without visible stepping or layered fragility. Dimensional accuracy typically sits around ±0.2 mm for small features, depending on geometry, orientation, and part size, tight en......
Why MJF Nylon Parts Feel Weak: Strength vs Stiffness vs Finish
If MJF nylon parts feel weaker than expected, it’s usually not because “MJF isn’t strong.” It’s because strength, stiffness, and surface finish are being lumped together as one vague idea of quality. They’re not the same thing. A part can be stiff but brittle. Strong but visually rough. Smooth but mechanically average. Understanding how these properties actually behave in Multi Jet Fusion, and how different nylon grades shift the balance, is the difference between parts that just look good and parts t......
PA12 vs PA12s 3D Printing Comparison: The Truth!
PA12 and PA12S are basically the two standard nylons you’re going to run into most, particularly in Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). At first glance, they may appear interchangeable because both are engineering-grade nylon 12 powders, both deliver strong mechanical performance, and both are common choices for functional parts. In practice, however, their behavior differs in ways that matter to engineers. Comparing PA12 vs PA12S is not about asking which is “better” or “worse......
MJF Tolerances & Dimensional Accuracy: What Engineers Expect
Warped edges, misaligned holes, and functional misfits are often caused by variations in MJF tolerances rather than random printing errors. If you’re printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion and running into tolerance or dimensional issues, it’s rarely “bad luck.” It’s almost always something happening inside the MJF process itself. MJF is known for repeatability, but tolerances don’t “take care of themselves.” Shrinkage, thermal gradients, part orientation, and feature design quietly stack the odds for—or a......
Glass-Filled Nylon 3D Printing: Master It in 2 Minutes
What Is Glass-Filled Nylon? Glass-filled nylon is basically a nylon base reinforced with chopped glass fibers, and that addition completely changes how the material handles a real-world load. In the shop, that reinforcement is what stands between a part that slowly creeps, flexes, or warps, and one that actually holds its shape and tolerances over time. It’s the reason you see it used so often for structural brackets, housings, and fixtures, basically anything that has to survive constant heat, vibrat......