PA12-CF (Carbon Fibre PA12)
polymercarbon fibre reinforced polyamide-12 composite
Carbon Fibre Nylon 12PA12 CarbonDuraForm PA CFHP CB PA12CF-PA12Nylon 12 CFPA12 30CF
Mechanical & thermal properties — 2 conditions
| Property | SLS as-built (XY) | SLS as-built (Z — vertical) |
|---|---|---|
| Elastic modulus | 5–6 GPa | 5–6 GPa |
| Yield strength (0.2%) | 46–58 MPa | 38–50 MPa |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 58–72 MPa | 46–58 MPa |
| Elongation at break | 2.0–5.0 % | 1.0–3.0 % |
| Density | 1.10 g/cm³ | 1.10 g/cm³ |
| As-built surface Ra | 12.0–20.0 µm | — |
Values shown as min–max where a spread is reported, otherwise as typical ± unit. Ranges reflect inter-source variation, not single-sample scatter. All values are for AM-processed specimens unless noted.
Engineering considerations
- Build orientation is the primary design decision: orient the highest-stiffness requirement in the XY plane. Z-direction modulus is ~9% lower than XY; Z-direction UTS is ~20% lower. For isotropic stiffness, consider unfilled PA12 or SLS glass-filled PA12 (EOS PA 3200 GF) as alternatives.
- Stress concentrations are critical: elongation at break is only ~3%. Fillets of R ≥ 1.5 mm at all internal corners and transitions. Avoid abrupt section changes. Use finite element analysis to check for local stress concentrations above 40 MPa — fracture initiates at stress risers.
- CF fibre length distribution: SLS processing partially degrades CF fibre length. Typical as-built chopped fibre length 0.05–0.15 mm post-sintering (starting from 0.1–0.3 mm). Shorter fibres reduce reinforcement efficiency. MJF HP CB PA12 tends to have more controlled fibre distribution than SLS.
- Powder refresh: enforce ≤40% recycled powder for structural applications. CF fibre degradation and matrix MFR increase with thermal history — track powder age carefully. For cosmetic or non-structural applications, up to 50% recycled powder is generally acceptable.
- EMI shielding: SLS PA12-CF parts exhibit volume resistivity ~10³–10⁵ Ω·cm depending on CF loading and porosity. For EMI shielding, specify minimum wall thickness (≥2 mm) for consistent conductive network. Verify shielding effectiveness (SE) by measurement — SLS porosity can disrupt CF conductive paths.
- Thermal conductivity: CF addition increases in-plane thermal conductivity vs unfilled PA12 (~0.3–0.5 W/m·K in XY vs ~0.16 W/m·K). Still low compared to metals — do not use as a thermal interface material without testing.
- Machinability: CF PA12 is machinable with carbide tooling. Drilling, reaming, and milling are possible. CF fibres are abrasive — tool life is reduced vs unfilled PA12 or metals. Use flood coolant or compressed air. Dust extraction essential (CF dust is a respiratory hazard and mildly irritant).
Advantages
- 3–4× higher stiffness than unfilled SLS PA12 (E 5.5 GPa vs 1.7 GPa) — enables thinner, lighter structures for the same deflection target
- Support-free powder bed process: no support removal marks, complex geometries including internal channels printable without supports
- Lower CTE than unfilled PA12 — better dimensional stability across temperature cycles
- Electrically conductive (surface and bulk) — CF content provides ~10³–10⁴ Ω·cm resistivity, enabling EMI shielding and ESD-safe parts
- Good specific stiffness: E/ρ ~5.0 GPa·cm³/g — competitive with aluminium alloy (70/2.7 ≈ 26) at much lower cost for complex shapes
- Higher hardness and wear resistance than unfilled PA12 — suitable for sliding surfaces and abrasive environments
- No post-cure required (vs photopolymer composites) — properties are final directly from the SLS process
Limitations
- Black only — CF content makes the material permanently black and non-dyeable. No colour options without paint/coating
- Reduced recyclability: 30–40% maximum refresh ratio recommended vs 50% for unfilled PA12 — CF fibres degrade with repeated thermal cycling, reducing reinforcement efficiency
- Higher surface roughness (Ra ~15 µm) than unfilled PA12 (~13 µm) due to protruding CF fibres — vapour smoothing less effective
- Brittle failure mode: elongation at break ~3% vs ~15% for PA12. Not suitable for impact-loaded or peel/flex loading applications
- Z-direction anisotropy significant: ~10–15% reduction in modulus and strength in Z relative to XY — orient parts carefully for primary load direction
- CF fibres are abrasive to SLS laser windows and recoater blades — machine wear rates increase with CF material. Check machine compatibility and consumable costs
- Higher powder cost than unfilled PA12 — CF powders are typically 1.5–2× the cost per kg of PA 2200
- Moisture sensitivity: matrix PA12 still absorbs moisture — CF does not, but matrix swelling affects dimensional stability and modulus at humidity equilibrium
Typical applications
Lightweight structural brackets requiring high stiffness-to-weight ratioAutomotive interior structural parts: centre console inserts, door panels with reinforcing ribsDrone frames and UAV structural components where stiffness and low mass are criticalBicycle components: handlebar stems, seat post clamps, small structural bracketsSports equipment: racket frames, binding components, structural sports tool housingsFunctional engineering prototypes requiring representative stiffness for FEA correlationJigs and fixtures requiring dimensional stability under mechanical loadElectronics enclosures where EMI shielding via CF conductivity is beneficialStiff snap-fit connectors requiring higher spring-back force than unfilled PA12Thermally stable components in elevated-temperature environments (up to ~80°C continuous)
Industries
automotiveaerospaceindustrialconsumer
Standards & certifications
ASTM-E8established
Tensile testing of SLS/MJF composite polymer specimens (note: ASTM D638 preferred for polymers; E8 used here for cross-process comparability)
automotiveaerospaceindustrial
ASTM D638 Type I specimens are the standard for polymer tensile testing. E8 referenced for comparison with metal AM data. For CF-filled polymers, specimen geometry and gauge length strongly affect reported elongation — verify test conditions when comparing sources.
Compatible AM processes (2)
Other polymer materials
PA12 (Polyamide 12)semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyamidePA11 (Polyamide 11)semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyamide (bio-based)PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)semi-crystalline high-performance aromatic thermoplasticPEKK (Polyetherketoneketone)semi-crystalline high-performance aromatic thermoplastic (PAEK family)ULTEM 1010 (Polyetherimide PEI)amorphous high-performance thermoplastic (polyetherimide family)PLA (Polylactic Acid)semi-crystalline bio-derived thermoplastic polyesterPETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)amorphous/semi-crystalline copolyester thermoplasticABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)amorphous engineering thermoplastic terpolymerTPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)elastomeric thermoplastic block copolymerPC (Polycarbonate)amorphous engineering thermoplastic polycarbonateASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)amorphous engineering thermoplastic terpolymerNylon PA6 / PA66 (Polyamide 66)semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic polyamidePP (Polypropylene SLS/MJF)semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefinPEBA (Polyether Block Amide / TPA)thermoplastic elastomeric polyether block amide copolymer
Related calculators
PackingBuild-chamber utilisation, virgin powder consumption, refresh cost, and cost/part for SLS and MJF. EOS P396, HP MJF 5200/4200, Farsoon 403P presets.Build Time EstimatorPer-process build time from part volume, layer count, and machine throughput. LPBF, SLS, FDM, SLA, DED, binder presets included.Cost-Per-Part EstimatorMachine hourly + material + labor + post-processing → unit cost with margin. Currency-agnostic.RoughnessTheoretical Ra and Rz from layer thickness and surface angle (staircase effect). Upward, downward, and vertical faces. LPBF, SLS, FDM, SLA, DED. Per Grimm et al.Post-ProcessingBottom-up cycle time for AM post-processing: stress relief, plate removal, support removal, HIP, heat treatment, surface finishing, and inspection. Per-part and batch modes.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-15 · v1 · Sources: dadbakhsh-2016-pa12cf, chen-2017-pa12-carbon, hofland-2017-sls-composites
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