The core of SLS material portfolios is nylon-based powders, particularly PA 12 (polyamide 12) and PA 11. These thermoplastics offer an excellent balance of mechanical strength, durability, and processability. PA 12 is widely used because it combines good tensile strength, toughness and chemical resistance, making it suitable for functional prototypes, housings, jigs/fixtures, end-use parts and structural components.
PA 11 is also used especially when slightly different material behavior is needed: due to its toughness and impact-resistance, PA 11-based parts are often preferred for components requiring resilience, potentially including snap-fit parts or where repeated stress or environmental exposure is expected.
This class offers high reliability and a good compromise between strength, flexibility and cost — ideal when you want parts that closely mimic injection-molded plastic items without the need for tooling.