Materials
MJF materials: PA12, PA11, PP and TPU compared
The six MJF materials in our catalog compared: HDT, tensile strength and elongation of PA12, PA11, PP and TPU, and how to choose the right one.
In MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) 3D printing, material choice comes down to six options: three grades of nylon PA12 (gray, white and glass-filled), PA11, polypropylene (PP) and TPU. In short: PA12 for most end-use parts, PA11 when you need ductility and impact resistance, glass-filled PA12 for stiffness and dimensional stability, PP for fluid contact, and TPU for parts that have to flex. This guide walks through the numbers in our materials catalog and how to read them.
What all MJF materials have in common
Every MJF material shares the strengths of the process, so the choice is about polymer properties more than geometry. The usable build volume is 380 × 284 × 380 mm, layers are 80 µm, dimensional accuracy is ±0.3 mm up to 100 mm and ±0.3% above and the minimum wall thickness is 1 mm. Parts grow with no supports and properties are nearly the same in every direction (PA12 reaches 48 MPa in both XY and Z); the MJF 3D printing page covers the process in detail.
SLS also fuses powder without supports and is ideal for prototypes and small batches in PA12 and TPU. MJF performs best on runs that fill the build volume, and in our catalog it is the only route to PA11, PP, PA12 White and glass-filled PA12. For the full process comparison, see MJF vs SLS: which to choose.
The six materials compared
| Material | HDT | Tensile strength | Elongation | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA12 | 175 °C | 48 MPa | 20% | Housings, assemblies, end-use production runs |
| PA12 White | 175 °C | 49 MPa | 17% | Parts to be painted or dyed in light colors |
| PA12 Glass Beads | 174 °C | 30 MPa | 10% | Stiffness and low shrinkage: enclosures, tooling |
| PA11 | 185 °C | 52 MPa | 50% | Snap-fits, living hinges, impact-prone parts |
| PP | 100 °C | 30 MPa | 20% | Tanks, ducts, fluid-contact parts |
| TPU (about 88 Shore A) | n/a | 9 MPa | n/a | Gaskets, bellows, flexible parts |
Indicative values from our materials catalog. HDT measures deflection under load in a short-term test: the continuous service temperature of your part has to be assessed case by case.
PA12, PA12 White and glass-filled PA12
PA12 is the default: the benchmark nylon for MJF, producing dense, near-isotropic, watertight parts with fine detail and a good balance of strength (48 MPa) and elongation (20%). It is the go-to for housings and electronics covers, complex assemblies and short to medium runs of end-use parts. As-built it is gray, with a matte, slightly grainy surface; on request we can assess black dyeing and painting.
PA12 White delivers the same performance in white. Choose it when the part will be painted or dyed in light, bright colors that a gray base would dull.
PA12 Glass Beads is filled with 40% glass microspheres: stiffer, dimensionally stable and low-shrink, but with tensile strength down to 30 MPa and elongation to 10%. The beads buy stiffness, not strength, so this grade suits enclosures, tooling and parts that must hold their shape, not clips and snap-fits that need to flex without breaking. For jigs and fixtures, see also our guide to 3D printed jigs and fixtures.
PA11: ductility and impact resistance
PA11 is the choice for parts that flex in service or take impacts: with 50% elongation, versus 20% for PA12, it deforms much further before it breaks. It also has the highest tensile strength (52 MPa) and HDT (185 °C) in the MJF range, and it is a polyamide made from a renewable source. Typical applications are snap-fits, living hinges and clips, automotive interiors, prosthetics and sporting goods.
Polypropylene: parts in contact with fluids
PP is the material for parts in contact with fluids: it combines excellent chemical resistance, weldability and very low moisture absorption. It is used for tanks and ducts, and for prototyping, in the same polymer, a part that will be injection-molded in PP in production. Its limit is heat: with an HDT of 100 °C, versus 174–185 °C for the nylons in the range, it is not the pick for high temperatures.
TPU: flexible parts and damping
MJF TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer with a hardness of about 88 Shore A, designed for parts that deform and spring back. It absorbs shock and vibration and suits gaskets, bellows and soft-touch surfaces. The catalog lists a tensile strength of 9 MPa; in an elastomer, real-world behavior depends heavily on wall thickness and geometry, which we define through our DfAM consulting to hit the flexibility you need.
How to choose, in practice
- Does the part need to be flexible or rubbery? → TPU.
- Is it in contact with fluids, does it need very low moisture absorption, or is it standing in for an injection-molded PP part? → PP, as long as temperatures stay well below its HDT.
- Does it have snap-fits or living hinges, or does it need to survive impacts? → PA11.
- Does it need to be stiff and stable, with low shrinkage? → Glass-filled PA12.
- Will it be painted or dyed in light colors? → PA12 White.
- Everything else → PA12, the benchmark for housings, assemblies and end-use production runs.
If two materials meet the requirements, the quote tells you which one is more cost-effective: there is no dogma about materials.
Where to start
Upload your CAD through the quote form with quantity, operating environment and any finishing you need. Within 24 working hours you get the recommended material, the price and the lead time, which for MJF depends on quantity, material and finishing. Not sure which material fits? Describe what the part has to do and we will choose it together.