FDM · Carbon-Filled Nylon

FDM PA12-CF Carbon Fibre Nylon (Stable)

Name: FDM PA12-CF Carbon Fibre Nylon 3D Printing
Brand: RYSE 3D

The stable, impact-tough carbon nylon — PA12 reinforced with 20% carbon fibre for 100 MPa tensile strength, 12% elongation at break and a 176 °C heat deflection temperature. Low moisture pickup keeps parts dimensionally honest in real service. RYSE 3D prints PA12-CF on our large-format FDM platform, up to 500 × 500 × 900 mm in one piece.

Quote in PA12-CF → All FDM materials PA12-CF datasheet (PDF) ↓

Also known as PA12 carbon · nylon 12 CF · carbon fibre nylon 12 · low-moisture carbon nylon

Overview

Carbon stiffness that stays dimensionally honest

Most carbon nylons are stiff until the workshop gets humid or the part takes a knock. PA12-CF is different on both counts: the PA12 base picks up far less moisture than PA6, so parts hold their dimensions and properties in real service, and at 12% elongation it flexes and absorbs a knock where a stiffer grade would crack. Carbon reinforcement still delivers 100 MPa tensile strength, 163 MPa in bending and a 176 °C heat deflection temperature.

Printed and finished in-house on our UK large-format FDM platform — up to 900 mm tall in one piece — PA12-CF can be bead blasted, smoothed, primed or A-class painted, all under one roof with 1–3 day express turnaround available.

Technical data

PA12-CF material properties

Headline properties for our FDM PA12-CF carbon fibre nylon.

Reviewed by the RYSE 3D engineering team · August 2026 Download the full datasheet below, or have it confirmed with your instant quote. Values vary with geometry and orientation.

Property	Value
Ultimate tensile strength	100 MPa
Elongation at break	12%
Heat deflection temperature	176 °C
Character	Ductile, low moisture
Impact, notched (Izod)	13 kJ/m²

Download PA12-CF datasheet (PDF) ↓

Applications

What PA12-CF is used for

Where carbon parts have to hold tolerance and take a hit.

Exhaust manifold welding fixture

RYSE 3D printed PA12-CF test rig pedal assembly with ribbed reinforcing arms

Test rig pedals

Race car intake duct

RYSE 3D printed FDM PA12-CF snap-fit test clip buckle

Test clip — snap-fit buckle

Intake manifoldsDetailed functional partsTight-tolerance fixturesUnder-bonnet componentsImpact-tolerant bracketsHumid-service partsDrone & UAV componentsProduction toolingLarge one-piece parts

Why PA12-CF

Why choose FDM PA12-CF

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The most ductile carbon nylon we run

12% elongation at break — several times either PA6-based carbon grade. Carbon stiffness that still flexes and absorbs a knock rather than cracking.

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Low moisture pickup

The PA12 base absorbs far less water than PA6 — properties and dimensions hold in humid, real-world service.

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Dimensionally stable

The tight-tolerance carbon nylon — fixtures and functional parts stay where the CAD put them.

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176 °C heat deflection

Comfortable next to heat — under-bonnet parts, manifolds and warm fixtures without softening.

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Up to 900 mm in one piece

Full-size manifolds, ducts and fixtures on our large-format platform — no splitting, no bonding.

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Finished in-house

Bead blasted, smoothed, primed or A-class painted — one team prints, finishes and inspects it.

Design guidance

Designing for PA12-CF

Typical guidelines for FDM PA12-CF carbon fibre nylon. We’ll confirm the specifics for your part with a free design-for-additive review at quote.

Design feature	Typical guideline
Build envelope (FDM)	500 × 500 × 900 mm in one piece
Turnaround	1–3 days express available
Bigger than the bed?	Split, print, bond & inspect the finished assembly
Load orientation	Strongest in-plane — notched Izod falls from 13 to 10 kJ/m² through-layer, so we orient load paths at quote
Moisture	Low-moisture PA12 base — the carbon nylon for humid or unconditioned service
Chemical exposure	Excellent against petroleum fuels, esters, deionised water and weak bases; poor against strong acids — tell us what the part will see
Hardness	79 Shore HD — hard-wearing for fixtures and tooling faces
Finish	Bead blasted, smoothed, primed or A-class painted in-house

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Full specification

Every number an engineer needs

ISO-referenced values from the manufacturer’s technical data sheet. Note that PA12-CF impact is reported by Izod ISO 180, not the Charpy ISO 179 method used for our PA6-based grades — the two are not directly comparable. Reference only; confirmed at quote.

Property	Value	Method
Mechanical
Tensile strength (XY)	100 MPa	ISO 527/2, 50 mm/min
Elongation at break (XY)	12%	ISO 527/2, 50 mm/min
Flexural strength (XY)	163 MPa	ISO 178, 2 mm/min
Flexural modulus (XY)	5,996 MPa	ISO 178, 2 mm/min
Izod impact, notched (XY)	13 kJ/m²	ISO 180, 23 °C
Izod impact, notched (Z-X)	10 kJ/m²	ISO 180, 23 °C
Shore hardness	79 HD	ISO 868, 23 °C
Thermal
Heat deflection, 0.45 MPa	176 °C	ISO 75
Glass transition (Tg)	99 °C	ISO 11357-3
Melting point (Tm)	190 °C	ISO 11357-3
5% decomposition temperature	≥330 °C	ISO 11358
Physical & electrical
Density	1.2 g/cm³ at 23 °C	ISO 1183
Carbon fibre content	20%	—
Flame rating	UL 94 HB at 1.5 mm	UL 94
Volume resistivity	1.05 × 10¹² Ω·cm	—
Dielectric constant	3.4 at 1 kHz	—

Anisotropy note: like all fibre-filled FDM materials, PA12-CF is strongest in the print plane — notched impact drops from 13 to 10 kJ/m² through-layer. We orient load paths for your part at quote.

Honest limits

Where PA12-CF is the wrong call

Engineering materials are picked on what they can’t do as much as what they can. If any of these apply, we’ll spec you a better grade — free, with your quote.

Peak stiffness & heat

PA12-CF trades top-end stiffness for toughness. Where maximum rigidity or the highest heat deflection decides the part, PA6-CF (109 MPa, 215 °C) is the stronger grade — kept dry.

High-cycle living hinges

At 12% elongation PA12-CF handles snap-fit engagement — we’ve printed working test clips in it — but carbon fibre limits repeated-flex life, so for living hinges that cycle constantly, powder-bed MJF PA 11 Gen2 is the right nylon.

Heat above 176 °C

This is the lowest heat deflection of our carbon nylons. For hotter tooling and fixtures, PET-CF holds 205 °C and PA6/12-CF COPA 194 °C, both with low moisture pickup of their own.

Strong acids

The manufacturer’s data sheet rates PA12-CF poor against strong acids below pH 3, though excellent against fuels, esters and weak bases. Tell us the chemistry and we’ll check compatibility before you order.

Flame-rated parts

PA12-CF is UL 94 HB only. Where ignition is the constraint, specify PC-FR flame-retardant PC/ABS or our UL94 V-0 SLA resin.

ESD-sensitive electronics

Carbon-filled doesn’t mean static-dissipative — at 1.05 × 10¹² Ω·cm PA12-CF is insulative, not ESD-rated. For handling sensitive electronics, use our dedicated ESD resin.

Compare

PA12-CF vs PA6-CF vs PA6/12-CF COPA

PA12-CF is the stable, ductile carbon nylon. For maximum stiffness and heat in dry service, see PA6-CF; for the highest impact toughness, PA6/12-CF COPA; for tooling in real heat, PET-CF. For production nylon at volume, powder-bed MJF may suit.

Property	PA12-CF (this page)	PA6-CF	PA6/12-CF COPA
Tensile strength	100 MPa	109 MPa	92 MPa
Heat deflection	176 °C	215 °C	194 °C
Elongation at break	12%	1.8%	8.4%
Impact, notched	13 kJ/m² (Izod ISO 180)	12.6 kJ/m² (Charpy ISO 179)	22.8 kJ/m² (Charpy ISO 179)
Moisture pickup	Low	2.48% at 70% RH	0.88% saturated
Best for	Ductile, low moisture	Peak stiffness & heat	Tough & impact-resistant

Note: PA12-CF impact is measured by Izod ISO 180 and the PA6-based grades by Charpy ISO 179. The methods use different specimens and are not directly comparable — the figures are shown for reference, not as a ranking.

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FAQ

FDM PA12-CF FAQ

What is PA12-CF carbon fibre nylon?

PA12-CF is a carbon-fibre-reinforced PA12 nylon printed on our large-format FDM platform. It pairs carbon stiffness with the dimensional stability and low moisture pickup of a PA12 base — the carbon nylon for detailed functional parts and fixtures that hold tolerance in real service.

How tough is PA12-CF?

The most ductile of our carbon nylons: 12% elongation at break, alongside 100 MPa tensile strength, 163 MPa bending strength and a 176 °C heat deflection temperature. Notched Izod impact is 13 kJ/m² in-plane, falling to 10 through-layer. Parts flex and absorb a knock where a stiffer grade would crack.

What is PA12-CF used for?

Intake manifolds and under-bonnet components, detailed functional parts, tight-tolerance fixtures and production tooling, impact-tolerant brackets, drone and UAV components — up to 500 × 500 × 900 mm in one piece.

What is the difference between PA12-CF and PA6-CF?

PA6-CF is the stronger and stiffer of the two, at 109 MPa against 100 and a 215 °C heat deflection against 176. PA12-CF wins everywhere else that matters in service: 12% elongation against 1.8%, so it flexes instead of cracking, and a PA12 base that picks up far less moisture, where PA6-CF absorbs 2.48% and loses roughly half its tensile strength saturated. Choose PA6-CF for maximum rigidity in dry conditions, PA12-CF for humid service and parts that get handled.

Does PA12-CF handle humid environments?

Yes — that’s its advantage. The PA12 base absorbs far less water than PA6-based nylons, so parts keep their dimensions and mechanical properties in humid workshops, unconditioned spaces and outdoor-adjacent service where PA6-CF would soften.

Can PA12-CF be used for snap-fits?

For engagement features, yes — 12% elongation is the highest of our carbon nylons and we have printed working test clips in it. For a hinge or clip that cycles constantly, carbon fibre still limits flex life, so powder-bed MJF PA 11 Gen2 is the better nylon.

Where can I find PA12-CF material properties and a datasheet?

The key material properties are listed above, and you can download the full PA12-CF datasheet (PDF) or have it confirmed with your instant online quote.

How do I order PA12-CF nylon parts in the UK?

Upload your CAD to our instant online quote and select FDM PA12-CF. As a UK 3D printing service bureau we print, finish and inspect in-house in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, and ship UK-wide — from prototyping to production.

Get your PA12-CF parts priced in seconds.

Upload your CAD for an instant online quote in FDM PA12-CF carbon fibre nylon — from a single fixture to a batch of large-format functional parts. Printed and finished in the UK.

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Printed and finished at our own ISO 9001 facility in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Call us on 024 7736 0144.