PA12 and PA11 are the two polyamides most used in powder bed fusion. Both are used for functional parts, and their tensile strengths are similar in the supplier data below. The differences show up in how far parts stretch before they break, how they handle impacts and heat, and what the printer needs to process them.
This page compares two like-for-like supplier pairs: Formlabs Nylon 12 Powder and Nylon 11 Pro Powder for its Fuse printers, and EOS PA 2200 (PA 12) and PA 1101 (PA 11) for its laser sintering systems. The two suppliers test and condition parts differently, so compare within each supplier rather than across them.
PA12 powder and PA11 powder side by side
| Property | PA12 powder | PA11 powder |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | Formlabs Nylon 12: 50 MPa; EOS PA 2200: 48 MPa X/Y, 42 MPa Z | Formlabs Nylon 11 Pro: 46 MPa X/Y, 45 MPa Z; EOS PA 1101: 50 MPa X/Y, 48 MPa Z |
| Tensile modulus | Formlabs: 1900 MPa; EOS: 1650 MPa | Formlabs: 1580 MPa; EOS: 1650 MPa |
| Elongation at break (X/Y / Z) | Formlabs: 8% / 5%; EOS: 18% / 4% | Formlabs: 49% / 26%; EOS: 30% / 15% |
| Notched impact | Formlabs Izod: 32 J/m; EOS Charpy: 4.8 kJ/m² (X) | Formlabs Izod: 50 J/m X/Y, 44 J/m Z; EOS Charpy: 6.9 kJ/m² (X) |
| Heat deflection at 1.8 MPa | Formlabs: 87 °C; EOS: 64 °C X, 57 °C Z | Formlabs: 50 °C; EOS: 46 °C X, 47 °C Z |
| Heat deflection at 0.45 MPa | Formlabs: 171 °C; EOS: 157 °C X, 145 °C Z | Formlabs: 178 °C; EOS: 180 °C X, 181 °C Z |
| Melting temperature | EOS: 176 °C; Formlabs: not stated | EOS: 201 °C; Formlabs: not stated |
| Printed part density | Formlabs: 0.99 g/cm³; EOS: 0.93 g/cm³ (EOS method) | Formlabs: 1.03 g/cm³; EOS: 1.03 g/cm³ |
| Water absorption, ASTM D570 | Formlabs: 0.66% | Formlabs: 0.4% |
| Print atmosphere (Formlabs Fuse) | Air recommended on Fuse 1+ 30W; nitrogen on Fuse X1 | Nitrogen required on Fuse 1+ 30W and Fuse X1; not validated on Fuse 1 |
| Recommended refresh rate | Formlabs: 30%; EOS: not stated | Formlabs: 30%; EOS: not stated |
| Typical uses | EOS: jigs, fixtures, grippers, brackets, covers, prototypes with hinges or threads | EOS: impact-resistant covers and housings, clips, buckles, eyewear |
Formlabs values come from its Nylon 12 Powder and Nylon 11 Pro Powder data sheets (ASTM methods, parts conditioned 48 h at 23 °C and 50% RH); EOS values come from its PA 2200 and PA 1101 data sheets (ISO methods, dry values).
Ductility and impact
The clearest difference is elongation. Formlabs lists 49% elongation at break in X/Y for Nylon 11 Pro Powder against 8% for Nylon 12 Powder, and EOS lists 30% for PA 1101 against 18% for PA 2200. The gap is wider in the Z direction: EOS gives 15% for PA 1101 and 4% for PA 2200. Notched impact values follow the same direction in both suppliers' data.
EOS describes PA 1101 parts as impact resistant and says they do not splinter under high mechanical load, which is why it suggests the material for clips, buckles and housings. Formlabs' powder selection guide rates Nylon 11 and Nylon 11 Pro "Best" for impact resistance and Nylon 12 "Good".
Stiffness and heat
Tensile strength is similar across both pairs. Formlabs lists a higher tensile modulus for Nylon 12 (1,900 MPa) than for Nylon 11 Pro (1,580 MPa), while EOS lists 1,650 MPa for both of its grades.
Under the 1.8 MPa heat deflection load, the PA12 grades hold up better: 87 °C against 50 °C in Formlabs' data, and 64 °C against 46 °C in EOS's (X direction). Under the lighter 0.45 MPa load the order reverses, with the PA11 grades slightly higher in both suppliers' data. EOS lists melting temperatures of 176 °C for PA 2200 and 201 °C for PA 1101. If a part carries load while warm, the 1.8 MPa figures are the more relevant ones.
Printer and process requirements
On Formlabs printers, the materials have different atmosphere requirements. Formlabs recommends printing Nylon 12 in air on the Fuse 1+ 30W, while its Nylon 11 Pro data sheet lists nitrogen as required on both supported printers, and its powder guide recommends nitrogen for Nylon 11 and Nylon 11 Pro for all new customers. Formlabs says printing PA11 in air is possible but can compromise properties and degrade powder faster. Both Formlabs powders have a recommended refresh rate of 30%.
Formlabs calls Nylon 12 Powder its top recommendation for a wide range of applications. EOS describes PA 2200 as a balanced, multipurpose material, and PA 1101 as a bio-based PA 11 made from castor oil.
Reading the data
Do not compare Formlabs numbers directly with EOS numbers. Formlabs tests with ASTM methods on parts conditioned at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity, while EOS reports dry values to ISO methods, and the printers differ. Formlabs also notes that properties vary with part geometry, print orientation and temperature. Within each supplier, the PA12 versus PA11 differences point the same way, which is the useful signal for choosing.
Which should you choose?
Choose PA12 powder if…
- The part must stay stiff under load at moderate heat, given the PA12 grades' higher heat deflection at 1.8 MPa.
- You want the general-purpose option: Formlabs calls Nylon 12 its top recommendation, and EOS calls PA 2200 multipurpose.
- Your Formlabs printer runs in air rather than nitrogen.
- The part is a jig, fixture, bracket or prototype with hinges or threads, uses EOS lists for PA 2200.
Choose PA11 powder if…
- The part must bend or stretch without breaking, such as clips, buckles or snap fits.
- Impact resistance matters, where both suppliers' data favor PA11.
- A bio-based material matters: EOS says PA 1101 is made from castor oil.
- You can print in nitrogen, which Formlabs requires for Nylon 11 Pro on its supported printers.
Common questions
Is PA11 stronger than PA12?
Tensile strength is similar in both suppliers' data. PA11 stretches much further and has higher notched impact values, while PA12 has higher heat deflection under the 1.8 MPa load and, in Formlabs' data, a higher modulus.
Does PA11 need nitrogen?
On Formlabs printers, the Nylon 11 Pro data sheet lists nitrogen as required on the Fuse 1+ 30W and Fuse X1, and Formlabs recommends nitrogen for Nylon 11 for all new customers. Other systems have their own requirements.
Can I compare Formlabs and EOS values directly?
No. Formlabs uses ASTM methods on conditioned parts, while EOS reports dry values to ISO methods. Compare PA12 and PA11 within the same supplier.
Sources
- Nylon 12 Powder Technical Data Sheet Formlabs · Checked 2026-10-15
- Nylon 11 Pro Powder technical data sheet Formlabs · Checked 2026-11-02
- Choosing the right powder Formlabs · Checked 2026-10-15
- PA 2200 material data sheet EOS · Checked 2026-11-02
- PA 1101 material data sheet EOS · Checked 2026-11-02
This comparison summarizes the cited documentation; it is not a lab test. Properties vary by brand, grade, print settings and orientation, so check the data sheet for the exact product you buy.