Nylon 11 & 12 supplier: long-chain polyamides for tubing and fuel lines
Specialty long-chain polyamides with low moisture uptake, flexibility and outstanding chemical resistance: the tubing and fuel-line nylons. We source PA11 and PA12 in extrusion and molding grades.
One gaylord to a truckload · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- Excellent, incl. cold temps
- Clarity
- Translucent-opaque
- Chemical resistance
- Excellent (fuels/oils)
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets; powder for 3D printing
- Order size
- One gaylord to a truckload
- Grades
- PA12 extrusion (tubing) grades · PA11 bio-based grades · Plasticized flexible grades · Glass-filled PA12
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
PA11 and PA12 are the nylons to pick when a tube or part has to stay flexible and keep its size in water, fuel, oil or road salt, especially in the cold. They cost much more than PA6 or PA66 and are weaker and less heat resistant, so use them where those properties earn their place. The thing that most often goes wrong is skipping the dryer: they absorb little water, but processing them wet still causes bubbles and splay.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About Nylon 11 & 12
Compared to PA6/PA66, long-chain nylons absorb far less moisture (about 1–2% at saturation, against 8–10% for PA6 and PA66), so parts stay dimensionally stable and flexible in wet and fuel-exposed environments. PA11 (bio-based) and PA12 dominate fuel lines, pneumatic tubing and demanding small parts; both also lead in powder form for industrial 3D printing.
Common applications
- Automotive fuel lines and truck air-brake tubing
- Pneumatic and hydraulic tubing
- Oil & gas umbilicals
- Cable jacketing
- SLS 3D-printed parts
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Excellent, incl. cold temps |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT) | ~47°C @ 1.8 MPa and ~135°C @ 0.45 MPa (plasticized PA11 tubing grade); varies by grade |
| Clarity | Translucent-opaque |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent (fuels/oils) |
| Relative cost | High |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Which grade to ask for
Start with the process (extrusion or molding), then decide whether the part needs to be plasticized.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| PA12, plasticized extrusion | Fuel lines, air-brake and pneumatic tubing | Some fluids pull plasticizer out over time, so tubing can stiffen; test with the real fluid |
| PA12, unplasticized | Molded fittings, connectors and small precision parts | Stiffer, so less suited to tight bend radii in tubing |
| PA11, bio-based | Tubing, coatings, cable jacketing, offshore lines | Often interchangeable with PA12 only after testing |
| Heat-stabilized / hydrolysis-resistant | Under-hood lines and hot-fluid contact | Long-term temperature ratings are grade-specific |
| Glass-filled PA12 or PA11 | Stiff molded parts with low moisture growth | Strongly anisotropic shrinkage, about 4:1 on PA11 GF30 |
| Powders for additive manufacturing | Powder-bed 3D printing | A different product from molding pellets; name the printer and process |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. Yes, even though uptake is low. PA12: 80–100°C / 176–212°F for 2–4 hours in a dehumidifying dryer, to below 0.1%. PA11: 80–90°C / 176–194°F for at least 4 hours. One producer caps dry-air drying at 80°C / 176°F because the resin yellows above it.
- Melt temperature. PA11 about 250–290°C / 482–554°F. PA12 about 210–260°C / 410–500°F unfilled, and about 250–290°C / 482–554°F with 30% glass. The grade sets the number more than the family does.
- Mold temperature. PA11 40–90°C / 104–194°F. PA12 20–60°C / 68–140°F.
- Shrinkage. Unfilled grades run about 1.1% along the flow and 1.1–1.2% across. With 30% glass it drops to about 0.2% along and 0.7–0.8% across, so gate location matters.
- Regrind. Use only clean, dry, same-grade regrind and prove the ratio with part testing. Many tubing and fuel-system customers cap or ban it, so check the spec first.
- Most common defect. Bubbles and voids from wet resin, in tubing and molded parts alike. Dry from a sealed bag and feed straight from the dryer.
What to put on the purchase order
- PA11 or PA12, and whether bio-based content is required.
- Plasticized or unplasticized, with the flexural modulus or hardness the tube must hit.
- Extrusion or injection grade, and the viscosity or melt flow with its test condition.
- Stabilizer package: heat, UV (black for outdoor lines) and hydrolysis resistance.
- The fluid and temperature the part sees, and the tubing standard your customer names (for example SAE J844 for air-brake tubing). Tubing standards are met by testing the tube, not the pellets alone.
- Color, including any color code your tubing uses.
- Sealed moisture-barrier packaging, with moisture and viscosity or melt flow on the COA.
When to consider something else
- If cost matters and some moisture growth is acceptable, see nylon 12 vs. nylon 6.
- If you need a softer, more elastic tube with high abrasion resistance, look at TPU.
- If the fluid is more aggressive or hotter than PA12 can take, look at PVDF.
- If you need molded wear parts that stay dimensionally steady in fuel and water, look at polyketone.
- If a rigid part needs far more heat resistance in wet service, look at PPA.
Common questions
Does nylon 12 need to be dried?
Yes. PA12 absorbs far less water than PA6 or PA66, but it still needs drying before processing: about 80–100°C / 176–212°F for 2–4 hours in a dehumidifying dryer, to below 0.1% moisture. Wet resin causes bubbles in tubing and voids in molded parts.
What is the difference between nylon 11 and nylon 12?
They are close. Both are flexible, low-moisture nylons used for tubing, coatings and cable jacketing. PA11 is made from a castor-oil-based monomer and PA12 is petrochemical. Grades are often interchangeable, but only after testing in your part and fluid.
Why is nylon 12 used for fuel and air-brake lines?
It stays flexible and tough at low temperatures, absorbs little water and resists fuels, oils, greases and road salt. Tubing keeps its size and resists cracking. The finished tube still has to pass the standard your customer names.
Is nylon 12 food safe?
Some PA11 and PA12 grades are offered for food contact, but it depends on the exact grade, including any plasticizer. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the grade and color you will run, and check that it covers your food type and temperature.
Tell us the Nylon 11 & 12 grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Send the PA11 or PA12 grade you extrude
Send the grade, whether it is plasticized and what fluid it sees, and a polymer chemist returns a matched grade and quote.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.