Alumide · grade · default condition
Alumide Standard
Properties of the Standard condition, compared with the other Alumide grades.
Default as-built SLS condition (bead-blasted, no further finishing) — use for functional tooling and metallic-look prototypes.
What is Alumide Standard?
Alumide Standard is Alumide in the Standard grade — default as-built SLS condition (bead-blasted, no further finishing) — use for functional tooling and metallic-look prototypes. Alumide Standard has a tensile strength of 48 MPa (6.96 ksi), stronger than 51% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi). Alumide Standard has a density of 1.36 g/cm³ (0.0491 lb/in³), heavier than 75% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 48°C (118 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 0.5 W/m·K (0.289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi), better than 84% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 78% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 81% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 3.5%, worse than 80% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.36 g/cm³ (0.0491 lb/in³), worse than 75% of polymer grades
Alumide Standard properties
Typical room-temperature values for Alumide Standard — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Alumide grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical5
Alumide Standard has a density of 1.36 g/cm³ (0.0491 lb/in³), heavier than 75% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 48°C (118 °F).
Mechanical10
Alumide Standard has a tensile strength of 48 MPa (6.96 ksi), stronger than 51% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.8 GPa (0.551 Msi).
Thermal10
Alumide Standard is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 0.5 W/m·K (0.289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 80 µm/m·K (44.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Alumide Standard has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 72% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Alumide Standard takes about 150 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — more than 84% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
Alumide Standard's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Alumide grades and fills
Alumide is also supplied in 2 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Alumide overview.
- StandardDefaultDefault as-built SLS condition (bead-blasted, no further finishing) — use for functional tooling and metallic-look prototypes.48 MPa tensile
- Aluminum-FilledThe nominal filled formulation itself — choose when the datasheet must state the metal-filled composition, higher stiffness and thermal conductivity versus plain PA12.48 MPa tensile
Working with Alumide Standard
Is Alumide easy to machine?
Machines and drills easily but the aluminium filler is abrasive — use sharp carbide tools, high speed, light feed and dust extraction; avoid coolant soak to limit moisture pick-up.
Can Alumide be welded?
Not weldable in practice; join by cyanoacrylate/epoxy adhesive, threaded inserts or ultrasonic staking.
Can Alumide be formed, bent or molded?
Processed only by laser sintering (build chamber ~165–172 °C, layer 0.10–0.15 mm); brittle at 3–4% elongation so no cold forming or snap-fit flexing, and design in 3.0–3.5% scaling/shrink compensation.
What surface finishes work on Alumide?
Bead blast, tumble, sand or wire-brush to expose the aluminium and give a metallic sheen; can be lacquered, dyed or painted, but not electroplated or anodised.
Alumide chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| aluminium powder (filler)≈20 vol%; median particle size ~20–40 µm | 35 – 45 | 40 |
| flow additives / pigmentsfumed silica-type free-flow agent | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| polyamide 12 (PA12)laser-sintering grade base polymer | balance | — |
Alumide Standard — frequently asked
What is Alumide Standard used for?
Alumide Standard is typically used for design and styling models, metallic-appearance show parts, jigs and fixtures, wind-tunnel and automotive models, short-run mould inserts and stiff housings and brackets. In short: aluminum-filled SLS nylon.
What is the tensile strength of Alumide Standard?
Alumide Standard has a typical tensile strength of 48 MPa (6.96 ksi) — stronger than 51% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Alumide Standard easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines and drills easily but the aluminium filler is abrasive — use sharp carbide tools, high speed, light feed and dust extraction; avoid coolant soak to limit moisture pick-up.
Can Alumide Standard be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not weldable in practice; join by cyanoacrylate/epoxy adhesive, threaded inserts or ultrasonic staking.
What surface finishes work on Alumide Standard?
Bead blast, tumble, sand or wire-brush to expose the aluminium and give a metallic sheen; can be lacquered, dyed or painted, but not electroplated or anodised.
Can Alumide Standard be formed, bent or molded?
Processed only by laser sintering (build chamber ~165–172 °C, layer 0.10–0.15 mm); brittle at 3–4% elongation so no cold forming or snap-fit flexing, and design in 3.0–3.5% scaling/shrink compensation.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alumide Standard?
Alumide Standard is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F), and briefly to 140°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Alumide Standard?
Yes — Alumide Standard is available for 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Alumide material data sheet (laser-sintering powder) — EOS GmbH (2022)
- PA12 / filled PA12 property records — CAMPUS Plastics (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 868 / ISO 75 test methods — ISO (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.