Nylon and Sustainability, the Path to Responsible Additive Manufacturing?

Nylon, as we already know, is a synthetic polymer belonging to the polyamide (PA) group. In additive manufacturing, we can find it in filament form (PA6) for FDM technology, or in powder form (PA11 and PA12) for technologies such as selective laser sintering or HP’s MultiJet Fusion. Despite being a highly utilized material in the 3D printing industry, nylon has been the subject of debate at times, especially as concerns its sustainability. This is due to several factors, such as the composition of some polyamides, the degree of recyclability and reusability of the material, or gas emissions during the manufacturing process. In addition, commitment to the environment is an aspect that all companies are taking and must take into consideration nowadays, something that we will also see later on.

If we focus only on nylon 3D printing, it is clear that, depending on the type of polyamide, its origin and composition, this material will have a greater or lesser impact on the environment. To better understand its role in the industry, as well as its carbon footprint, we will try to analyze the characteristics and properties of nylon, both in powder and filament form. So how are PA6 filaments printed, how do PA11 and PA12 differ, where does the 3D industry stand in terms of nylon usage and sustainability, and are there viable alternatives? Below, we will provide answers to all of these in order to understand more about how sustainable this material is and the way forward for the manufacturing industry.

Photo Credits: FICEP S3

PA6, a demanding 3D printing filament

PA6 filament is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer and is one of the most widely used polyamides worldwide. With a melting point of 220°C, PA6 is used in a wide variety of applications due to its good performance/cost ratio. Although it has traditionally been used in industrial manufacturing methods, it has gradually gained popularity in the 3D printing sector because of its interesting mechanical properties and its ability to create high-performance parts. In addition, PA6 is a much more difficult material to 3D print when compared to standard plastics such as PLA or ABS. Its operating temperature range is 250-270°C, so a suitable working environment must be ensured so that it does not shrink.