Examid PA12 R Recycled Ultra-Flexible Polyamide

Description

Examid® PA12 R is an industrial-quality recycled polyamide 12. It is sourced from controlled industrial streams: production waste from PA12 tubing and hose extrusion, post-process powder from SLS 3D printing (HP Multi Jet Fusion, EOS, Stratasys), and regrind from the cable industry. Not to be confused with post-consumer recycle (household waste) — Examid® PA12 R is an industrial-grade recyclate with traceable origin and controlled batch parameters.

PA12 is the most expensive standard polyamide (1.5–2.5 times more expensive than PA6, 4–5 times more expensive than PE). The recyclate reduces cost by 30–50 % vs virgin PA12 while retaining ~85–95 % of the mechanical properties of the virgin material and fully identical chemical properties (low water absorption, fuel resistance, flexibility). ESG parameters: carbon footprint (Scope 3) is 60–70 % lower vs virgin PA12.

The position is particularly strong in the closed-loop 3D-printing economy: after SLS printing, 50–80 % of the original PA12 powder remains unreacted in the cake. Examid® PA12 R partly originates from these SLS-overflow sources, which ensures high quality of the base molecule.

Typical parameters (recycled PA12): density 1.01 g/cm³, Tm ≈ 175–178 °C, MFR slightly higher than virgin (~10–20 % due to partial degradation of the molecular chain), water absorption ~1.5 % at saturation, impact strength retained at ~85 % of the virgin level, elongation at break 200–300 %. Color: natural (opaque beige/grey) — partial colour-bleed is possible depending on the source of the input stream.

Key advantages

• 30–50 % cost reduction vs virgin PA12 — a material carrying the same key properties at a lower price
• ESG labeling: 100 % industrial recycled content, Scope 3 carbon footprint 60–70 % lower vs virgin — a contribution to the circular economy for brands
• Low water absorption (~1.5 %) and density of 1.01 g/cm³ retained from virgin PA12 — dimensional stability
• High flexibility and impact strength, including at low temperatures (down to −40 °C)
• UV and thermal stabilization — for outdoor applications
• Resistance to fuels, glycols and oils — characteristic of PA12
• Traceable industrial origin — not post-consumer, controlled batches

Limitations and considerations

• Base UL 94 HB rating (not V-0); for flame-retardant applications — Examid® PA12 E-V0 (virgin)
• MFR is 10–20 % higher than virgin — better filling of thin-walled parts, but wall strength may be lower
• Color — natural/grey only. Micro-inclusions of colored particles from the input stream are possible. For critical color uniformity, use virgin + colour-MB
• Not for medical devices with direct tissue contact — for medtech, use virgin USP Class VI
• Batch-to-batch variability is slightly higher than virgin — evaluation of a control batch is recommended before serial production

Applications

• Budget pneumatic/hydraulic tubing: low-pressure pneumatic lines, general-purpose cable protection tubing, landscape and technical irrigation
• Cable industry (budget segment): jacketing of outdoor power and signal cables, fiber-optic protective sheaths, coiled cables
• 3D-printing “replay”: returning SLS overflow to additional prototyping cycles (mixed with virgin for functional prototypes with up to 30–50 % recycled content)
• Mass-market sports equipment: fitness machine parts, protective guards, fastening elements — with recycled ESG labeling
• Industrial brushes and fibers: monofilaments for road sweepers, technical brushes
• Non-structural automotive under-hood components: fasteners, harness holders, protective covers (without FR requirements) with recycled labeling for OEM ESG reporting
• Molding and extrusion for general technical applications: where virgin PA12 would be too expensive and PA6/PA66 is unsuitable due to water absorption

Global market counterparts: Arkema Rilsan® RC (Recycled Content), Evonik VESTAMID® eCO, EOS PA2200 “balanced” (mix of virgin and recycled SLS powder), HP 3D HR PA 12 (3D-printing recycled feed). Examid® PA12 R is the MW position for industrial applications with ESG labeling and cost savings.

The stated values are measured by internal methods close to the corresponding ISO and GOST standards. Batch-to-batch variability of recycled material is higher than that of virgin — requesting the current TDS is recommended for each batch. This information is provided for reference only and does not constitute an official batch data sheet.