Choosing the right 3D printing material for a project is often not easy. In the following blog-post you will find a comparison of polyamide 11 from the new additive manufacturing technology SAF with PA12 from SLS printing, which has been the most used material so far.
The polyamides PA11 and PA12 have similar properties. The plastics are robust and feature high strength and toughness, as well as excellent sliding and wear behaviour. PA11, which is derived from castor oil, is a more environmentally friendly 3D printing material than the conventionally produced PA12 plastic. PA11 also exhibits even better mechanical properties than PA12, which has been more commonly used in 3D printing. The ductility is higher and the impact strength (notched impact strength) as well as the abrasion and fatigue strengths are improved. In addition, the chemical resistance is stronger and the material has a higher isotropy. This stems from the fact that PA11 was explicitly developed to make additive manufacturing more economical, both compared to previous 3D printing processes and to conventional injection moulding. The polyamide PA11 is thus perfectly suited for use in mechanical engineering, among other things.
Picture right: PA 11 grey component, PA 12 white component
If you compare the prices for a component made of the two plastics, series components with PA11 from the additive manufacturing technology Selective Absorption Fusion (SAF) are significantly cheaper, up to 30% depending on the design and number of parts. Single pieces or very small series, however, are cheaper with the material PA12 from Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing. In this respect, depending on the intended use and required properties, it is also worth paying attention to this aspect.
PA 12:
PA 11:
| SAF PA11 | SLS PA12 |
Density | 0.99 g/cm3 | 0.95 g/cm3 |
Tensile strength | 48 MPa | 48 MPa |
Impact resistance (Izod notched) |
| 4.4 J/m |
E-Modul | 1.60 Gpa | 1.65 Gpa |
Flexural strength |
| 41 Mpa |
Flexural modulus |
| 1.5 Gpa |
Heat deflection temperature @ 0.45 MPa | 185 °C (ASTM D648) | 180 °C (ASTM D648) |
Elongation at break | 45 % | 20 % |
Shore Hardness | 75 D | 75 D |
The two polymers PA 11 and PA 12 are chemically very similar. The difference lies in the number of carbon atoms in the polymer backbone. PA11 has eleven of them, as the name suggests, and PA12 has twelve. The different number of atoms is the reason for the different properties. Moreover, PA12 is a chemically produced material, whereas PA11 is a bioplastic polyamide powder obtained from renewable castor oil (vegetable oil).
If, despite the description, you still have questions about which material is more suitable, please contact one of our Solution Partners, we will be happy to advise you.
PS: The new material wizard on the platform is available to help you select the right material based on properties!
Your Jellypipe
View prices/delivery times for a part in PA11 / PA12:
Click on the link "Partner-Store", select a store on the corresponding page (your choice has no influence on the assortment), register and upload your 3D print file. Prices and delivery times will be displayed immediately:
Get advice:
Click on the link "Advice", select a partner and call or write an e-mail (your choice has no influence on the assortment, etc.).
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