PA12-CF (Carbon Fibre PA12)

polymer

carbon fibre reinforced polyamide-12 composite

Carbon Fibre Nylon 12PA12 CarbonDuraForm PA CFHP CB PA12CF-PA12Nylon 12 CFPA12 30CF

PA12-CF (Carbon Fibre PA12) 3D printed component

Density

1.10 g/cm³

YS (SLS as-built (XY))

46–58 MPa

UTS (SLS as-built (XY))

58–72 MPa

Elongation (SLS as-built (XY))

2.0–5.0 %

Elastic modulus

5–6 GPa

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.

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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)

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.

PA12-CF (Carbon Fibre PA12)

Mechanical & thermal properties — 2 conditions

Engineering considerations

Advantages

Limitations

Typical applications

Industries

Standards & certifications

Compatible AM processes (2)

Other polymer materials

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