Polyamide 12 or Nylon 12 (PA12) is an effective electrical insulator and its properties are not as sensitive to humidity as other polyamides. PA12 has good resistance to shock and many chemicals, and is extensively modified with plasticizers and reinforcements. In comparison to PA6 and PA66, PA12 materials have a lower melting point, lower density, and much lower moisture regain. PA12 is not resistant to strong oxidizing acids.
The moisture content must be below 0.1% before processing. If the material is exposed to air, drying in a hot air oven at 85 C [185 F] for 4 -5 hours is recommended. In a desiccant dryer, 3-4 hours is recommended. If the container is unopened, it can be used directly for molding after three hours of equilibration to shop floor temperature.
230 C 300 C [446 F 580 F]. Not to exceed 310 C [590 F] for standard grades and 270 C [518 F] for flame retardant grades
30 C 40 C [86 F 104 F] for unreinforced grades. For thin-walled or large surface area components, use 80 C-90 C [176 F 194 F]. Use 90 C 100 C [194 F 212 F] for reinforced grades. Increasing the mold temperature increases the crystallinity level. It is important to control the mold temperature precisely.
Up to 100 MPa. Low hold pressures and high melt temperatures are recommended.
High; high speeds give better finish on glass-filled grades.
Runner diameters for unfilled grades can be as small as 3 5 mm because of the low viscosity of the material. Reinforced grades require larger diameters (5 8 mm). For the runner shape, use the full round type. Use a sprue that is as short as possible
Various gates can be used. To avoid highly stressed components or excessive shrinkage, do not use small gates for large parts. Make the thickness of the gate equal to the part thickness. When using circular tapered gates, the minimum recommended diameter is 0.8 mm.
Hot runner molds can be used effectively but precise temperature control is necessary to prevent material drooling or freezing off at the nozzle. The size of the gates can be smaller when hot runners are used instead of cold runners.
PA12 is a linear, semicrystalline-crystalline thermoplastic derived from butadiene. The properties of PA12 and PA11 are similar, but PA12 has a different crystal structure.
Water content, temperature, and residence time determine Viscosity. This material flows easily. Shrinkage is of the order of 0.005 0.02 mm/mm [0.5 2%]. This shrinkage is dependent on the specific grade, wall thickness, and processing conditions.