Long-Chain Polyamides: A Brief Introduction to Nylon 11 and Nylon 12
SPECIALTY ENGINEERED PLASTICS AT NYCOA: NYLON 11 and NYLON 12
In today’s blog post we’d like to scratch the surface of Nylon 12 & 11 - two specialty grades of engineered nylon that are popular in some specialty applications despite what can be a high cost and a supply chain with some limitations.
So what are Nylon PA 11 & 12?
Nylons 11 & 12 are two sides of a similar coin. Nylon 11 is a bioplastic polyamide chain made from renewable resources. Nylon 12 is a synthetic material mostly derived from petroleum sources. Nylon 12 is most commonly chemically composed from a compound called laurolactam, a monomer with 12 carbons. Nylon 11 is composed from castor beans via chemical isolation of an 11-carbon starter material called 11-aminoundecanoic acid.
Both nylon grades have low water absorption due to the long hydrocarbon chains that compose them. Both have high chemical and UV resistance. PA 12 is especially durable even at low temperatures and has resistance to cracking under stress. PA11 has strong light, weather, and thermal stability. As well as high elongation at break and impact resistance. Finally, the lower moisture absorption of these nylon plastics leads to greater dimensional stability in finished parts (for more on moisture uptake in engineered and specialty nylons, see our post here).
Comparing the products to the more common Nylon 6 can be useful to help understand where each different grade of nylon may shine. Nylon 6 has higher water absorption, which may sometimes be appropriate for an application; nylon 6 also has a higher melt temperature, which can be better-suited for some applications. Finally, nylon 6 is often purchased at a lower cost, and with more different sources of availability, than nylons 11 and 12. Nylon 6 has a low chemical resistance due to the higher number of amide linkages in its polymer chain. This makes nylon 6 a great and economical fit for many widely-used applications.
PA 11 &12 are useful for their flexibility and low moisture absorption. They can be used in packaging films, and can be mixed with polyethylene to improve water vapor permeability. These grades can be used to create gas tubing, insulation in electronics, opacifying and bulking agents in skin care products, as well as sporting goods, tactiles and a host of other applications.
So what are some limitations with Nylon 11 & 12? Nylons 11 and 12 have lower heat deflection temperature (HDT) of around 300 F, and typically have lower tensile at 8,000 psi. Availability can also be limited, because there are few manufacturers of the main feedstock. In the early 2000’s there have been a number of instances where plants could not produce enough material for global demand, resulting in shortages and many brands and product manufacturers unable to fill orders or service their customers.
It can be challenging to find alternative materials that work well. Nylons such as nylon 612 and 610 can suit some similar purposes, but may not have the chemical resistance and flexibility of 11 and 12. And Nylon 11 and 12 can be more expensive than other Nylons due to its limited availability. (For more information, review news sites such as these: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). As a result of these shortages and high prices resulting from limited supply, NYCOA has spent years developing a new class of specialty nylon products with high chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, and flexibility, known as NXTamid.
NXTamid features tunable chemical resistance (including resistance that surpasses Nylons 11 and 12) similar flexibility, higher melt temperatures and equal or better moisture absorption. Additionally, NXTamid is made using a unique chemistry and manufacturing process at NYCOA, eliminating many of the bottlenecks that have been seen in the history of Nylon 11 and 12 production.
Hopefully this helps you to get a basic understanding of Nylons 11 & 12. How they compare to industry standard Nylon 6. When utilized to their full potential they offer an integral and unique piece to the puzzle of your materials needs.
About NYCOA
NYCOA (the nylon corporation of America) commercially manufactures many grades of nylon, including NXTamid, a unique polyamide substitute to nylon 11 and nylon 12. All NYCOA products are made in the USA, manufactured in our ISO plant located in Manchester, NH. NYCOA is dedicated to plastics engineering, plastics innovation, and a consistent quality earned through operational excellence. NYCOA is dedicated to its customers, and produces specialty engineered polymers for industries and partners around the world, and has plastics compounding capabilities to produce a variety of reinforced grades.
Nylon manufactures specialty engineered polyamide (nylon) plastics for many industries and applications, including fasteners, hook and loop, extruded parts, injection molding, foamed components, monofilament, powders, and wire and cable jacketing.
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