Toray Toraypearl spherical PA12 powder for 3D printing
Toray has developed Toraypearl polyamide (PA) 12, a spherical PA12 powder widely compatible with powder bed fusion (PBF)-type 3D printers.
3D-printed parts using Toraypearl PA12.
Problems of conventional PA12 powders in PBF-type 3D printing
PBF-type 3D printing is widely adopted in industrial applications due to its ability to efficiently create parts with high dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength.
Conventional PA12 powders, with good processability at relatively low temperatures, account for approximately 70% of feedstock in this polymer PBF market.
However, conventional PA12 powders typically consist of irregularly shaped particles, which hinder uniform packing and result in parts with rough surfaces that require post-processing such as polishing. In addition, gaps between particles tend to generate internal micro-voids, leading to reduced density and preventing the material from fully exhibiting its inherent mechanical properties, including impact strength.
Toraypearl PA12 powder for better smoothness and strength
Toray overcame these challenges by drawing on its proprietary spherical particle technology, backed by years of polyamide polymerization and resin processing R&D, as well as its experience supplying Toraypearl™ PA6, a highly heat-resistant spherical PA6 particle, for such 3D-printing applications as automotive components, office chairs, and power tools.
By applying this spherical particle technology to PA12, Toray successfully developed Toraypearl PA12, a new material compatible with a wide range of PBF-type 3D printing. Compared with its conventional counterparts, the uniform spherical shape enables dense and homogeneous powder packing, resulting in:
Significantly improved surface smoothness (approximately 2.5× improvement, surface roughness Ra ≈ 7 μm)
Enhanced impact strength (more than 2× improvement, Charpy impact strength: 50 kJ/m2)
Toraypearl PA12 particles are with uniform spherical shape, enabling dense and homogeneous powder packing.
Toraypearl PA12 is expected to contribute to 3D-printed parts with higher quality in applications requiring durability, airtightness, and mechanical reliability, thereby expanding its potential use in both prototypes and functional parts.
Sample evaluations with selected customers have been underway since January 2026.
To date, Toray has steadily expanded its portfolio of resin materials for 3D printers, including the launch of Toraymill PPS, polyphenylene sulfide resin milled powder, in 2017 for applications such as electric vehicles and aerospace, and Toraypearl PA6 in 2022.
With the addition of Toraypearl PA12, Toray further strengthens its lineup to meet the growing global demand for high performance materials in the 3D printing market.
