French chemical firm Arkema has expanded its offering with Rilsan T range, a new biosourced polyamide 10.10 processed from castor oil. Manufactured at its Serquigny facility in France, it benefits from raw material integration, boosted by the recent acquisition of Casda and Hipro as well as a new joint venture with Jayant Agro.

Rilsan T represents the only alternative to other long chain polyamides while benefiting from Arkema’s specialty polyamides. Arkema also says it is the only chemicals manufacturer to offer expertise spanning over 60 years in the chemistry of castor oil, the raw material for its Rilsan polyamide 11. This position was bolstered in 2012 by the acquisition of Chinese companies Casda, the world leader in sebacic acid derived from castor oil, and Hipro Polymers, which produces polyamides also from castor oil (Hiprolon PA6.10, PA6.12, PA10.10, PA10.12), as well as the recent purchase of a stake in Ihsedu Agrochem, a subsidiary of Jayant Agro in India which specialises in the production of castor oil.

Arkema also claims its PA10.10 is the only polyamide to rank between PA6.10, PA6.12 on the one hand, and PA10.12, PA12, PA11 on the other, all of which are already part of Arkema’s product range. Over and above the well-known properties of long chain polyamides (chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, mechanical properties), Rilsan T affords improved rigidity (in particular when reinforced with glassfibre), thermal stability, permeability to petrol and gas, and processability, while consisting of up to 100% renewable carbon.

Rilsan T also benefits from what sets Arkema’s polyamides apart in terms of technical possibilities (e.g. exclusive multilayer solutions for transport markets) and services (it qualifies for the exclusive Rcycle offer of service which covers the collection, sorting and recycling of waste, and the development of a range of recycled polymers).

The various PA10.10 grades already available cover most applications in the field of transport (monolayer or multilayer brake lines for trucks and fuel lines for cars), industrial pipes, cables, and injection moulded parts for sports or electronics applications.

With its three monomer plants, four polymerisation plants, and four R&D centres on three continents, Arkema’s high performance polyamides business, which includes Rilsan in particular, has a global reach, says the firm.