3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA11 vs PA12

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

PA11 (Nylon 11) guidePA12 (Nylon 12) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA11 comparisonsMore PA12 comparisons
PA11 vs PA12 — documented properties and sources
PropertyPA11 (Nylon 11)PAPA12 (Nylon 12)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$194.98/kg median; $194.98–$194.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$64.33/kg median; $36.00–$170.67/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyamide 11, polymerised from castor-oil-derived aminoundecanoic acid — a bio-based nylon[1][2]Polyamide 12 — the longest-chain common nylon, with the fewest amide groups per unit mass and so the least moisture uptake[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.02 (ISO 1183)[1]1.01 specific gravity (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D792)[5]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools span 36–171; the middle of the market is about 64[6][7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented36–171 across brands; IEMAI 3D 36, Fiberlogy 64 at 3DJake, 3DXTech AmideX Nylon 12 171[6][8][7]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[2]Available from several mainstream brands[6][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[2]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g and 1 kg spools[8][6]
Typical applicationsTough, chemically resistant functional parts; Prusa targets it at impact-loaded and vibration-loaded components[2]Dimensionally stable functional parts, ducting and living hinges where PA6 would move too much with humidity[3][9]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.02 (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C275 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]260–290 (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12)[10]
Bed temperature°C100 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]110 (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12)[10]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — Prusament specifies a 55 ± 5 °C chamber[1]Enclosure required (passive)[3]
Recommended chamber temperature°C55 ± 5 (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fanNot documentedPart cooling fan not required (Simplify3D)[11]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPA nylon sheet (Prusament)[1]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[11][3]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented12 at Extrudr's 150 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[10][12]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds a specific surface plus adhesive[11][3]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[3]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[1][3]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[3]
Extruder requirementPrusa printed its test specimens with a high-flow CHT nozzle[1]Not documented
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[3]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[3]Non-abrasive when unfilled[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[13]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[9][13]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedModerate — good heatbreak cooling needed[11]
Hotend requirementNot documentedMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[11]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — Prusa measures 0.46 % after 7 days at 22 % RH, but PA11 sits between PA12 and PA6 in the family[1][13]High (0.8–2 %) — Polymaker's PA12-CF10 reaches 1.5 % equilibrium against 3.33 % for its PA6-GF25, and Polymaker developed the PA12 grade specifically for lower moisture sensitivity[4][9]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.26 after 24 h and 0.46 after 7 days (Prusa Polymers method)[1]Not documented
Drying temperature & timeNot documented60–80 °C for 8–12 h (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12); 100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker CoPA)[10][14]
Symptoms when wetPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[9]Popping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[9]
Effect of moisture on strengthPrusa publishes no dry-versus-conditioned columns; the CoPA reference shows the PA-family response — stiffness and strength fall sharply, impact and elongation rise[9][14]Polymaker states its PA12 grade changes little between wet and dry, unlike its PA6-based materials; the CoPA dry-to-wet reference shows what the PA6-type response looks like[9][14]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[13]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[13]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedPolymaker requires a 100 °C dry for 8 h and storage below 20 % RH; no molecular-weight loss figure is published, and the published wet data is conditioning rather than melt hydrolysis[14][15]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa38.3 ± 0.8 printed horizontal and 39.5 ± 0.5 printed vertical at yield, ISO 527-1[1]49.3 at yield and 33.4 at break printed XZ (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D638)[5]
Young's modulusMPa1200 printed, both orientations, ISO 527-1[1]1510 printed XZ and 1250 ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D638)[5]
Elongation at break%5.6 ± 0.1 at yield, printed, ISO 527-1[1]30 at break printed XZ against 6.5 in ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D638)[5]
Flexural modulusMPa1100 printed horizontal and 1000 printed vertical, ISO 178[1]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12.9 ± 2.1 printed horizontal and 11.7 ± 1.2 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched[1]11 at +23 °C and 6.0 at -30 °C (Extrudr DuraPro PA12, ISO 179/1eA); unnotched does not break[10]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 138 J/m printed XZ against 71.0 J/m in ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D256)[5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32 ± 1 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test) — the highest interlayer figure Prusa publishes for any of its filaments[1]41.8 at yield and 41.2 at break printed ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D638) — higher than the XZ break figure, because XZ specimens draw and neck first[5]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell70 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method)[1]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedModerate — the long-chain polyamides hold load better than PLA but below PC[3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[3]Excellent — living hinges viable. Stratasys sells FDM Nylon 12 specifically for repetitive-flex parts such as snap-fit clips and press-fit inserts on the strength of its fatigue properties[3][5]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Semi-flexible[1]Semi-flexible[9]
Z strength as % of XY%84 — Prusa publishes a tensile anisotropy coefficient of 0.84, the ratio of Z to XY tensile strength[1]85 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638) — one of the least anisotropic unfilled filaments measured[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C58.7 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]94.7 printed XY and 91.9 in XZ/ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D648 at 66 psi)[5]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C49.9 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]84.3 printed XY and 75.3 in XZ/ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D648 at 264 psi)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented34.0 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM D7426 inflection point)[5]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedVicat A 142 (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12, ISO 306)[10]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documentedBounded by a Vicat softening point of 142 °C (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12); no loaded-bar service figure is published[10]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented84-103 printed (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12, ASTM E831: 84.4 in XY and 85.6 in XZ/ZX over -50 to 10 °C, 89.1 over 10-45 °C, 98.2 over 45-70 °C); Extrudr quotes 100 for DURAPRO PA12 (ISO 11359-2)[10][5]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for the unfilled grades surveyed[10]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedMonths outdoors before embrittlement[3]
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[3]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Absorbs water, properties shift[9]Good — minor absorption; the least moisture-sensitive of the common nylons[9]
Food contactNot documentedNot food-contact certified as filament[3]
Biodegradability / compostabilityBio-based — the monomer comes from castor oil[2]Not biodegradable[3]
RecyclabilityNot documentedMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[16]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[16]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[16]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[16]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[16]≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[16]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[16]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[16]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[16]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[16]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands poorly — gums rather than powders[11]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[11]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[11]
Support material pairingNot documentedPolymaker sells a break-away PolySupport matched to PA12[11]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedHolds dimensions better than PA6 after conditioning — Polymaker singles its PA12 grade out on exactly this point[9]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDissolved at 23 °C by formic acid, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — all laboratory reagents.[17][18]Dissolved at 23 °C by formic acid, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — all laboratory reagents.[17][18]
Softened or crazed byMineral acids, oxidants, halogens and zinc chloride solutions attack the amide bond; ordinary solvents do not (BASF, PA6/66).[17]Not resistant to 10 % formic acid, phenol, chloroform or dichloromethane (Ensinger); zinc chloride stress-cracks nylon.[18][17]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[17]None — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[17]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. Prusament PA11 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2026-07 · tds
  2. Prusament PA11 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  3. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  4. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  5. FDM Nylon 12 — Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2021-09 · tds
  6. Nylon PA12 — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. IEMAI 3D PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  11. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  15. PolyMide CoPA — Technical Data Sheet page Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  16. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  17. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  18. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds