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Nylon 11 PA11 · SLS powder

Polyamide 11 is made from castor oil and has 40% elongation at break, so it suits parts that bend or take impacts.
Get a quote in PA11
Powder
Blasted part

Nylon 11 (PA11) is made from castor oil instead of petroleum. Compared with PA12 it deforms much more before it breaks. Elongation at break reaches 40% in X/Y and notched Izod impact reaches 71 J/m, more than 2 times the PA12 figure. Tensile strength stays almost the same, at 49 MPa.

Choose PA11 if the part has to bend without cracking, for example clips that are fitted often, living hinges, housings that may be dropped or drone arms that take impacts on landing. It absorbs very little water (0.07% per ASTM D570), so it stays stable in damp environments too.

On the other hand, PA11 is less stiff (modulus of 1600 MPa) and deforms under load at a lower temperature than PA12, 46 °C at 1.8 MPa. Fine details and very thin walls come out less well than in PA12.

We print it on the Fuse 1+ 30W, in nitrogen, as Formlabs recommends. It will be available on the Fuse X1 once Formlabs releases the material profile, which is announced for the end of 2026.

Data sheet

PA11 properties

These are typical values, measured by the manufacturer on SLS printed test specimens. How your part behaves also depends on its geometry and orientation in the chamber.

Tensile strength
49 MPaASTM D638-14 Type 1
Tensile modulus
1600 MPaASTM D638-14 Type 1
Elongation at break (X/Y)
40%ASTM D638-14 Type 1
Flexural modulus
1400 MPaASTM D790-15
Notched Izod impact
71 J/mASTM D256-10
HDT at 0.45 MPa
182 °CASTM D648-16
HDT at 1.8 MPa
46 °CASTM D648-16
Fresh powder per build
30%refresh rate; the rest is recovered powder

Source: Formlabs, Nylon 11 Powder technical data sheet (TDS)

Colours

Colours for PA11

You choose the colour in the quote form. The shades on screen are approximate.

  • Colour of the material

    after blasting

  • Black

    immersion dyed

  • RALyour choice

    Any RAL code

    spray painted

Clear protective coat. It seals the pores of the surface, so the part is easier to clean and slightly glossy.

Good for

  • Clips and living hinges that open and close often
  • Drone arms and housings that take impacts on landing
  • Housings for portable equipment that may be dropped
  • Parts used in damp conditions, where low water absorption matters
  • Guards and covers for robots and mechanisms

Limitations

  • HDT is 46 °C at 1.8 MPa, so under load it deforms at lower temperatures than PA12.
  • Fine details and thin walls come out less well than in PA12.
  • For now it prints only on the Fuse 1+ 30W, so the part can be at most 165 × 165 × 300 mm.
  • With immersion dyeing, the dark grey base only takes black. For other colours the part is spray painted in any RAL code.

Surface finishing

  • Glass bead blasting in the Fuse Blast (standard)
  • Vapour smoothing (on request)

GuideHow to choose between PA12 and PA11 for SLS parts

Questions about PA11

Can PA11 handle engine bay temperatures?

It depends on the load. Under a light load (0.45 MPa) HDT is 182 °C, and at 1.8 MPa it drops to 46 °C. An unloaded cover or duct in the engine bay can work, but a bracket that carries weight in heat will deform. For brackets in hot areas, choose PA11 CF (178 °C at 1.8 MPa) or PA12 GF (113 °C).

Should I use PA11 or PA12 for clips?

PA11 is the better choice for clips. With 40% elongation at break against 11%, a PA11 clip tolerates larger deflection during assembly and more cycles. PA12 is stiffer and holds fine dimensions better, but it cracks more easily if you force it.

When will you be able to print PA11 on the Fuse X1?

Formlabs has announced Nylon 11 for the Fuse X1 by the end of 2026. Until then we print it on the Fuse 1+ 30W, with a limit of 165 × 165 × 300 mm per part.

What does it mean that PA11 is bio-based?

The monomer is made from castor oil, a renewable source. The part is not biodegradable and behaves like any engineering polyamide.

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  • No minimum quantity
  • NDA on request
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