What is PA6/12-CF COPA?
PA6/12-CF COPA is a carbon-fibre reinforced co-polyamide — a PA6/PA12 copolymer that keeps PA6’s strength while borrowing PA12’s low moisture pickup. It offers 92 MPa tensile strength in-plane, a 194 °C heat deflection temperature and 22.8 kJ/m² notched Charpy impact, which is the toughest figure of any grade we print in FDM.
How tough is PA6/12-CF COPA?
It is the toughest FDM grade we run: 22.8 kJ/m² notched Charpy impact, against 12.6 for PA6-CF and 10.0 for PA6-GF on the same ISO 179 method. Unnotched Charpy is 57.5 kJ/m². Paired with 8.4% elongation at break, it absorbs knocks that would crack a stiffer carbon nylon.
What is PA6/12-CF COPA used for?
Functional prototypes, jigs and fixtures, tooling and low-volume production — particularly parts that combine heat exposure with handling or impact, such as under-bonnet brackets, ducting, workholding and drop-tested housings. Parts print up to 500 × 500 × 900 mm in one piece.
PA6/12-CF COPA or PA6-CF — which should I choose?
PA6-CF is the stiffer and stronger grade: 109 MPa tensile and a 215 °C heat deflection against 92 MPa and 194 °C. COPA is dramatically tougher — 22.8 against 12.6 kJ/m² notched Charpy, and 8.4% elongation against 1.8% — and picks up far less moisture at 0.88% saturated. Choose PA6-CF when rigidity decides the part, COPA when it gets knocked, handled or has to survive a drop.
Does PA6/12-CF COPA absorb moisture?
Far less than a straight PA6. Saturated water absorption is 0.88% at 25 °C and 55% RH, because the PA12 content in the copolymer reduces pickup. That means parts hold their dimensions and their mechanical properties in humid workshops and unconditioned spaces where a PA6-based grade would soften and swell.
How much heat can PA6/12-CF COPA take?
A 194 °C heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa, or 170 °C at 1.8 MPa under load. It melts at 225 °C with a 220 °C Vicat softening point. That covers warm under-bonnet and enclosure work; for sustained heat above it, PET-CF holds 205 °C and PA6-CF 215 °C.
How much does PA6/12-CF COPA 3D printing cost?
Upload your CAD to our instant online quote and select FDM PA6/12-CF COPA — the price appears immediately, with no minimum order and instant pricing on runs up to 100,000 parts.
Where can I find PA6/12-CF COPA material properties and a datasheet?
How do I order carbon fibre nylon parts in the UK?
Upload your CAD to our instant online quote and select FDM PA6/12-CF COPA. 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.
