5 Industries Impacted by Nylon PA 12 Flame Retardant

Additive manufacturing is rapidly transforming from a prototyping tool into a full-fledged production solution. With this shift comes the demand for materials that can handle real-world challenges: heat, flame, stress, tight tolerances, and more. In response, specialized polymers are being developed and certified at a remarkable pace to meet these evolving needs.

One of those advanced materials is Nylon PA 12 Flame Retardant (FR) — a halogen-free, flame-retardant material certified to UL 94 V0 at 2.5 mm. It combines excellent thermal stability, dimensional accuracy, and premium surface finish—all while meeting strict flammability and regulatory standards.

Here are five key sectors where this material excels.

In the automotive sector, Nylon PA 12 FR is an ideal solution for applications like electrical connector housings, speaker covers, and interior replacement parts — especially where compliance with the Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) N0. 302, Flammability of Interior Materials, is critical.

Endeavor 3D took advantage of the material’s capabilities by reverse engineering broken wire harness components inside a car door. Using Nylon PA 12 FR, replacements were 3D scanned, printed, and installed within 24 hours. These connectors, ranging from 25 mm to 74 mm with a wall thickness of 1-2 mm, demonstrated tight tolerances (±0.010 mm) and passed the stringent burn resistance requirements for occupant compartments of motor vehicles.

For battery cases, charging docks, and LED housings, Nylon PA 12 FR brings critical safety to devices frequently used in homes, offices, and public environments. Its high dielectric strength (up to 7.6 kV/mm) and surface resistivity (up to 1.03×10¹⁵ Ω) provide excellent electrical insulation, reducing the risk of electrical hazards in compact electronic assemblies.

Another consideration to make when choosing a 3D printed material for a consumer goods application is aesthetic appeal. Does the final part satisfy the aesthetic expectations of the end user? What is the surface roughness straight off the printer? Will the material allow for ease of post-processing? Nylon PA 12 FR offers a premium surface finish with isotropic mechanical properties and high dimensional accuracy, making it particularly well-suited for front-facing applications.

Check out the Nylon PA 12 FR Datasheet →

Nylon PA 12 FR thrives in industrial environments where fluidic systems, control panels, and machinery housings must balance mechanical strength with fire resistance. The material’s tensile modulus of 2580 MPa and heat deflection temperature of up to 341.6°F enable it to withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical stresses common in manufacturing and automation environments.

Building on these strengths, HP partnered with Bronymec, an international contract manufacturer, to redesign a set of relay blades. Originally machined from metal, the blades were transformed into a 3D printed solution using Nylon PA 12 FR. By leveraging design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) principles, Bronymec consolidated nine parts into two, significantly improving the ease of installation and lowering production time.

Nylon PA 12 FR thrives in industrial environments where fluidic systems, control panels, and machinery housings must balance mechanical strength with fire resistance. The material’s tensile modulus of 2580 MPa and heat deflection temperature of up to 341.6°F enable it to withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical stresses common in manufacturing and automation environments.

Building on these strengths, HP partnered with Bronymec, an international contract manufacturer, to redesign a set of relay blades. Originally machined from metal, the blades were transformed into a 3D printed solution using Nylon PA 12 FR. By leveraging design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) principles, Bronymec consolidated nine parts into two, significantly improving the ease of installation and lowering production time.

In a separate project, a hydraulic connector for Markem Imaje, originally machined from stainless steel, was reengineered and printed using Nylon PA 12 FR. The result? The final part featured optimized flow channels and thin-wall geometry, making a component that was 20× lighter, more efficient in fluid dynamics, and produced with dramatically reduced material waste.

Aside from Nylon PA 12 FR’s mechanical performance, the material’s chemical resistance and electrical insulation make it suitable for protecting sensitive control electronics in factory automation.

Nylon PA 12 FR is particularly well-suited for applications such as brackets, protective covers, interior fasteners, and custom replacement parts within train cabins. What makes this material ideal for these railway applications is its combination of compliance and durability. Nylon PA 12 FR is compliant with railway standard EN 45545-2, achieving Hazard Level 1 (HL1) and Hazard Level 2 (HL2) ratings depending on part thickness.

For example, Nylon PA 12 FR is an excellent choice for protective shields that insulate high-voltage electrical components from external elements. Traditional manufacturing methods for these types of parts can be costly and time-consuming due to tooling requirements and extended production cycles. By leveraging 3D printing with Nylon PA 12 FR, manufacturers can significantly reduce production costs, speed up delivery times, and eliminate the need for expensive tooling.

In robotics, PA 12 FR is employed in battery enclosures, cable routing systems, sensor housings, articulated joints, and internal structural frames. What makes the material well-suited for robotic applications is its flame retardant, dielectric strength, and surface resistivity properties. Robots, especially autonomous guide vehicles (AGVs) and collaborative robots, often operate in high-voltage environments, within compact enclosures, or near machinery that generates heat. In the event of electrical arcing,  friction, or component failure, Nylon PA 12 FR can help prevent ignition from spreading to other systems.

Dielectric strength (PA 12 FR = 7.6 kV/mm) measures how well a material can withstand electrical stress without breaking down. So why does this matter in robotics? Many robots contain dense assemblies of wires, batteries, and PCBs within tight housing spaces. Materials with high dielectric strength reduce the risk of short-circuiting and arcing between conductive paths.

Surface resistivity is also a crucial property for robotics because it helps control static electricity buildup. When static electricity builds up, sensitive electronics can become damaged, causing interference with sensors or onboard processors. This can lead to false signals in control systems and communication modules.

As the demand for additive manufacturing solutions grows, so does the need for materials that meet increasingly complex requirements. Nylon PA 12 Flame Retardant (FR) exemplifies the types of high-performance polymers that are shaping the future of Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) production. From automotive interiors and electronic enclosures to industrial automation and robotic systems, Nylon PA 12 FR offers a rare combination of flame resistance, electrical insulation, and structural performance.

Endeavor 3D is one of the first contract manufacturers in North America to offer Nylon PA 12 FR for production-ready use. Want to explore what PA 12 FR can do for your application? Visit the Endeavor 3D Nylon PA 12 FR material page to learn more or contact us for a free quote.