Polyamide Nylon 12 with 30% glass fiber reinforcement (PA 12 - 30% GFR) represents a high-performance engineering thermoplastic combining the excellent chemical resistance and low moisture absorption of Nylon 12 with the enhanced mechanical strength and dimensional stability provided by glass fiber reinforcement. This advanced composite material serves critical functions in automotive, industrial, and consumer applications requiring superior strength-to-weight ratios and long-term durability.
Material Overview
PA 12 - 30% GFR features a Nylon 12 matrix (polyamide with 12 carbon atoms between amide groups) reinforced with 30 weight percent short glass fibers, typically 200-400 μm in length [1]. The composite exhibits tensile strength of 120-140 MPa and flexural modulus of 4000-5000 MPa, representing 2-3× improvements over unreinforced Nylon 12 [2]. Glass transition temperature remains around 50°C, with melting point of approximately 178°C enabling processing via injection molding, extrusion, and additive manufacturing. The material demonstrates significantly reduced moisture absorption (0.8-1.0% at saturation) compared to Nylon 6 or Nylon 6,6, providing superior dimensional stability in humid environments [3]. Density increases to approximately 1.18-1.22 g/cm3 with glass reinforcement, while thermal expansion coefficient decreases to 3-4 × 10−5/°C in the fiber direction. The composite maintains excellent chemical resistance to oils, fuels, greases, and most organic solvents, with good impact strength even at low temperatures [1]. Continuous use temperature reaches 80-100°C, with short-term excursions to 150°C possible.
Applications and Advantages
PA 12 - 30% GFR serves in automotive under-hood components including intake manifolds, resonators, and fluid handling systems where heat resistance and dimensional stability are critical [2]. The material functions in industrial gears, bearings, and structural components exploiting its wear resistance and fatigue life under cyclic loading. Electrical and electronic applications utilize the composite for connectors, housings, and cable management systems requiring mechanical strength and insulation properties [4]. Consumer products including power tool housings, sporting goods, and furniture components benefit from the material's toughness and surface finish. Additive manufacturing via selective laser sintering produces complex geometries with excellent mechanical properties for prototyping and end-use parts [3]. The composite's low moisture absorption makes it ideal for outdoor applications and marine environments where dimensional changes must be minimized. Its excellent machinability enables post-processing for tight-tolerance components, while good weldability facilitates assembly operations. The material resists stress cracking and maintains properties over millions of loading cycles, extending product service life in demanding applications [1].
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow supplies Polyamide Nylon 12 with 30% glass fiber reinforcement in various forms to meet engineering, automotive, and industrial requirements. Custom dimensions are available to support specialized applications.
Explore PA 12 - 30% GFR and other advanced materials in Goodfellow's online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.
References
- [1] Domininghaus, H., Elsner, P., Eyerer, P., et al. (2012). Plastics for Engineers: Materials, Properties, Applications. Hanser Publications. https://doi.org/10.3139/9783446407923
- [2] Karian, H. G. (Ed.). (2003). Handbook of Polypropylene and Polypropylene Composites (2nd ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203911808
- [3] Goodship, V., & Ogur, E. O. (2004). Polymer processing with supercritical fluids. Rapra Review Reports, 15(6), Report 161.
- [4] Wypych, G. (2016). Self-Healing Materials: Principles and Technology. ChemTec Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2014-0-03710-7