French chemical producer Arkema (Colombes / France; www.arkema.com) has expanded its offering with the launching of "Rilsan T", a new bio-sourced polyamide 10.10 processed from castor oil.

According to a company statement, the new polyamide is manufactured at its northern French facility in Serquigny and benefits from raw material integration, boosted by the company’s 2012 acquisitions of Chinese entities Casda, a leading maker of sebacic acid derived from castor oil, and Hipro Polymers, producer of polyamides also from castor oil (Hiprolon PA 6.10, PA 6.12, PA 10.10, PA 10.12.

Additionally, the news also comes on the heels of the company’s recent announcement of its new joint venture with Mumbai-based Jayant Agro, which produces and supplies castor oil, a key feedstock for Arkema’s bio-based PA 10 and 11 (“Rilsan”). – see Plasteurope.com of 16.04.2013

The high-performance polyamide producer described Rilsan T as possessing an “excellent” degree of rigidity – particularly when reinforced with glass fibre – thermal stability, permeability to petrol and gas and processability, consisting of up to 100% renewable carbon.

“This innovation has been developed to meet the needs of our customers who are looking for a credible alternative to high-performance polyamides, but with specific thermo-mechanical properties,” explains Lionel Guerdoux, managing director of Arkema’s specialty polyamides.