SLS material selection
PA12, PA11, and glass-filled PA12 are material families rather than guaranteed performance levels. Shortlist the exact grade from the application, current TDS, print orientation, conditioning, finish, inspection, and printed-part validation requirements.
Fast selection guide
Core materials
Use these families to form a shortlist. Final selection requires the current grade documentation and project-specific requirements.
Balanced default
A common starting point for housings, brackets, ducts, prototypes, and other functional parts when a balanced nylon option is required.
Ductility-focused option
Consider PA11 when the design needs more ductility, impact tolerance, or repeated flexing than the selected PA12 grade can provide.
Glass-filled stiffness
Consider a glass-filled PA12 grade where added stiffness may help, while checking surface, feature, loading, temperature, and dimensional requirements.
Flexible co-polyamide · Co-PA
White and black SLS co-polyamide for bendable, durable parts. TPM3D reports 280% elongation at break, detailed surfaces and a 20% powder refresh rate. Developed for TPM3D SLS platforms, it supports wearable and consumer applications.
Application examples include wrist, hand, ankle and spinal supports. Scanning-based customization, dyeing and smoothing can help tailor fit and surface finish.
Send your STEP or STL file, quantity, preferred color and flexibility target. Our team can review wall thickness, fit and finishing for prototypes or small production batches. Include your surface requirements when requesting vapor smoothing or a painted finish.
Supplier values are reference data, not guaranteed finished-part specifications. Confirm the current grade, build orientation and test conditions for your project. Orthotic examples do not establish medical certification or prolonged skin-contact suitability; these requirements need application-specific documentation and validation.
| Property | Method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Visual | Natural white / black |
| Density | ASTM D792 | 1.03 g/cm³ |
| Elongation at break | ASTM D638 | 280% |
| Tensile strength | ASTM D638 | 39 MPa |
| Tensile modulus | ASTM D638 | 1,300 MPa |
| Flexural strength | ASTM D790 | 36 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | ASTM D790 | 879 MPa |
| Heat deflection temperature, 0.45 MPa | ASTM D648 | 104 °C |
| Heat deflection temperature, 1.82 MPa | ASTM D648 | 45 °C |
| Notched Izod impact strength | ASTM D256 | 39 J/m |
| Unnotched Izod impact | ASTM D256 | Does not break |
Biological evaluation data available
Three laboratory reports cover cytotoxicity, skin irritation and skin sensitization for this tested material and finishing configuration. These data support material selection discussions for rehabilitation supports, orthotics, eyewear and wearable accessories.
Test laboratory: EPINTEK Guiyang Ltd. · Sample ID: 25080574 · Batch: 20250810. Results below apply only to the tested articles and study conditions.
| Test | Standard | Result under study conditions | Report number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxicity (MTT) | ISO 10993-5:2009 | 100% extract: 72.6% cell viability. The extract did not show potential cytotoxicity to L-929 cells. | 25080574-01-R02EN |
| Skin irritation | ISO 10993-23:2021 | Primary Irritation Index (PII): 0. Response category: Negligible. | 25080574-03-R02EN |
| Skin sensitization (GPMT) | ISO 10993-10:2021 | Positive rate in all test groups: 0%. No skin sensitization reactivity observed. | 25080574-05-R02EN |
Scope: these results do not automatically cover raw parts, every color, dyeing, painting, sterilization or different processing conditions. They do not constitute final-device certification or establish suitability for every contact site or duration. Gallery examples above do not imply that each illustrated finish was tested.
Share your CAD, intended contact site and duration, color and finish requirements so we can review the tested configuration with your application.
Test summary reviewed: 16 September 2026.
Material comparison
This qualitative table avoids mixing values from unspecified grades or test conditions. Confirm any numeric requirement against the current TDS and, when needed, representative printed-part tests.
Selection logic
Shortlist PA12, then confirm the exact grade, geometry, orientation, finish, and operating environment.
Compare a current PA11 grade with PA12 using the required load case and relevant printed-part validation.
Review a glass-filled PA12 grade, including its surface, feature, temperature, and dimensional tradeoffs.
Ask which flexible powder grades are currently available and define hardness, rebound, abrasion, and test requirements.
Confirm material availability, certification scope, processing capability, and application-specific approval before selection.
Materials requiring availability confirmation
A flexible SLS material is a powder grade shortlisted for elastic or repeated-deformation requirements. A family label does not establish hardness, rebound, abrasion, fatigue life, skin-contact suitability, or service life, and this list does not confirm current stock or process qualification.
Evidence-gated option
Confirm the exact powder grade and current availability; define hardness or stiffness method, rebound, abrasion, environment, cycle count, and validation requirements.
Availability-dependent option
Confirm the current grade, process availability, chemical environment, and hinge or fatigue test plan.
Availability-dependent option
Confirm SLS process capability, exact grade documentation, temperature, chemical, and regulatory requirements.
Availability-dependent option
Confirm the exact grade, process capability, and any required flame, electrical, temperature, or regulatory evidence.
Finishing compatibility
List finish requirements early, then confirm availability, material compatibility, geometry, dimensions, service environment, and acceptance criteria.
Possible baseline finishes; confirm surface texture, powder removal, and critical dimensions for the selected grade.
May be available for selected grades; confirm color target, geometry, quantity, and service environment.
May be available when coating adhesion, color, masking, dimensions, and acceptance criteria are defined.
May be available for selected grades; review surface target, geometry, dimensions, and functional interfaces.
Review fastener load, installation method, access, wall thickness, and repeat-use requirement before quoting.
Review geometry, surface target, critical features, and dimensional allowance before quoting.
FAQ
Content reviewed: 16 September 2026
The tested configuration was Precimid 1190Pro with chemical vapor smoothing, batch 20250810. Reports cover ISO 10993-5:2009 cytotoxicity (72.6% cell viability for the 100% extract; no potential cytotoxicity under the study conditions), ISO 10993-23:2021 skin irritation (PII 0, Negligible), and ISO 10993-10:2021 skin sensitization (0% positive rate in the test groups). Results apply only to the tested articles and study conditions.
No automatic equivalence is established. The reports identify Precimid 1190Pro with chemical vapor smoothing. Raw parts, other colors, dyes, coatings, sterilization and different processing conditions require a separate assessment. Application gallery images illustrate designs and are not evidence that every illustrated finish was tested.
No. These are three biological evaluation test reports, not a final-device certification or a guarantee for every contact duration. Review the intended contact site, type and duration, final manufacturing process, cleaning or sterilization, and application-specific validation with our team.
Start with the part requirements rather than the material-family name. Compare the exact current grades for loading, ductility, stiffness, temperature, chemicals, moisture, finish, orientation, inspection, and service life. Use the relevant TDS to shortlist a grade, then define printed-part validation for critical requirements.
No. PA11 is often shortlisted when ductility, impact behavior, or repeated flexing matters, but suitability depends on the exact grade, geometry, orientation, conditioning, load case, and validation method. PA12 may still be suitable for a specific design, so compare documented grade data and printed-part evidence.
Consider glass-filled PA12 when added stiffness or dimensional behavior may benefit the design. Also review tradeoffs involving surface texture, thin features, fasteners, impact behavior, temperature, orientation, and finishing. The exact grade and acceptance criteria should be confirmed before quoting.
Not automatically. TDS values may describe a particular material, specimen, orientation, conditioning state, and test method. A production requirement should identify the exact grade and decide whether supplier data is sufficient or whether representative printed parts need project-specific testing.
These finishes may be available for selected nylon grades, but compatibility depends on material, geometry, color, surface target, quantity, dimensions, and service environment. Include the finish and acceptance criteria in the RFQ so the complete process can be reviewed.
Provide CAD, quantity, load case, flexibility or stiffness target, temperature, chemicals, moisture or UV exposure, critical dimensions, finish, color, inspection needs, service-life expectations, shipping destination, and delivery target. Identify which requirements must be verified by documentation or testing.
Confirm the exact powder grade and current process availability, then define the hardness or stiffness method, load and deformation, cycle count, temperature, chemicals, abrasion, moisture or UV exposure, finish, skin-contact or regulatory needs, and acceptance criteria. Family labels such as TPU, TPA, or Co-PA do not guarantee equivalent printed-part behavior.
Not sure which material fits?
We can review part geometry, load, flexibility, finish, and quantity before quoting.