--- title: "Xenia launches impact-resistance-modified PA12 CF filament" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/xenia-launches-impact-resistance-modified-pa12-cf-filament/ date: 2025-10-27 modified: 2025-10-28 lang: en author: "Tess Boissonneault" description: "In the extrusion 3D printing segment, reinforced materials have helped set a new standard when it comes to part strength and stiffness, and have thus been integral to creating new..." categories: - "3D Printing Filaments" - "Composites" - "Formnext" - "Materials" - "Sponsored" - "Thermoplastic Polymers" tags: - "Featured" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Xenia_XecarbST-640x425.jpg word_count: 670 --- # Xenia launches impact-resistance-modified PA12 CF filament In the extrusion 3D printing segment, reinforced materials have helped set a new standard when it comes to part strength and stiffness, and have thus been integral to creating new opportunities for industrial, high-performance applications. Italian company [Xenia](https://www.xeniamaterials.com/en/), a veteran in thermoplastics and composites, has a deep understanding of this, which it has brought to its [3DF AM filament portfolio](https://www.xeniamaterials.com/en/3df-materials/) comprising reinforced PETG, PVDF, PEBA and PA11.     Reinforced nylon filaments in particular have been of interest to end users from the automotive, aerospace and industrial sectors, due to the composite material’s excellent chemical resistance, heat deflection and strength-to-weight ratio. In recognition of this growing demand, Xenia is expanding its range of PA-based composite filaments to include XECARB® PA12-CF-ST, a PA12 reinforced with 15% carbon fiber that is enhanced with the company’s “Super Tough” upgrade. The material, along with other filaments and pellets from Xenia, will be presented in Frankfurt next month at Formnext 2025. ## Introducing XECARB PA12-CF-ST XECARB PA12-CF-ST was engineered by Xenia to have balanced material properties, delivering on strength, stiffness, lightness and dimensional stability. This combination of properties makes the material a suitable choice for applications where mechanical performance and weight reduction are key goals, including sports equipment, UAV structures, automotive components and more.   The filament’s unique properties are derived from three elements: its PA12 polymer base, its carbon fiber reinforcement and Xenia’s “Super Tough” (ST) upgrade. With PA12 as the base material, the composite filament begins with a high level of mechanical strength and dimensional stability. Other properties characteristic of PA12 are excellent resistance to tensile stress, abrasion and impact. The material is also notable for its low moisture absorption, which makes it viable for manufacturing functional components that must undergo high levels of humidity and temperature changes. [![Xenia XECARB PA12-CF-ST bike saddle](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Xenia_sella_img1.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Xenia_sella_img1.jpg) The addition of 15% carbon fiber reinforcement into the PA12 base increases vital properties like stiffness and strength, with minimal weight increase. Xenia has further enhanced this new 3D printing material with its ST Upgrade, a technology that improves the performance of reinforced thermoplastics particularly in terms of impact resistance, elongation at break and lightness. According to Xenia, the ST upgrade reportedly increases the impact resistance of the filament by up to 50% compared to standard PA12 with 15% CF reinforcement. The new material also boasts a low density of 1.06 g/cm³. In addition, XECARB PA12-CF-ST offers excellent temperature resistance, with an HDT of 150°C that ensures dimensional stability and reliable performance even under demanding thermal conditions. With these enhancements, the composite nylon filament has a broad range of potential applications in industries like automotive, aerospace and industrial sectors, which require high-performance parts that can withstand mechanical stress. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Xenia_img-scaled.png) ## 3DF portfolio When Xenia first [broke onto the 3D printing materials market](https://www.voxelmatters.com/xenias-entry-into-additive/), its initial focus was on composite pellets for FGF and large-scale 3D printing. Last year, the company expanded its range of polymer AM materials with the launch of its [3DF Materials filament brand](https://www.voxelmatters.com/xenia-to-unveil-new-high-performance-filaments-at-formnext-2024/). This product portfolio, unveiled at Formnext 2024, originally included four filaments:  - XELIGHT® PEBA: a filament based on ultra-light PEBA that offers good flexibility, impact resistance and a 20% weight reduction compared to standard PEBA grades (with a density of just 0.87 g/cm³). - XECARB® PA11-CF-SL: a “SuperLight” composite based on bio-based PA11 with 15% carbon fiber reinforcement that offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, chemical resistance, low moisture absorption and high impact strength.  - XECARB® PVDF-CF: a modified PVDF with 10% carbon fiber reinforcement that offers excellent chemical resistance, durability, impact strength, tensile strength and resistance to UV and flames that is ideal for electronic applications.  - XEGREEN® PETG-CF: a filament made from recycled PETG and 20% recycled carbon fiber that is characterized by a high strength-to-weight ratio, good chemical and impact resistance, ductility and low thermal expansion. XECARB PA12-CF-ST thus expands this small but highly versatile portfolio, signalling Xenia’s continued commitment to growing its AM material range. Don’t miss seeing the company’s AM filaments and pellets first hand at Formnext 2025, from the 18th to 21st of November at Messe Frankfurt. You can find Xenia in Hall 12.1, booth F98.