 Biochemistry is not a new invention! After the Second World War, French chemists managed to create polymers from castor oil: the “PA11” polyamide, as it is known to chemists, is still used today in electronics, sportswear and the automobile industry.
 As early as 1947, this polyamide, made from renewable sources, was sold under the name of Rilsan®. Rilsan® is mainly used to create long, fine, resistant threads that are used to make synthetic fibres as an alternative to another oil-based polyamide: nylon. The use of Rilsan® increased rapidly and plastic materials replaced fibres. Today, PA11 is mostly used in high-value added applications with great technical and resistance requirements such as fuel lines in cars and offshore pipelines.
The number of castor oil plants in cultivation increased to produce more of this oil which was previously only used for medical or pharmaceutical purposes. These additional plantations, which are mostly located in Brazil, China and India, do not damage local crops or contribute to deforestation (see feature). Rilsan® and the other castor oil based products (Pebax® Rnew, Platamid® Rnew, etc.) are renewable in every sense of the word!
Arkema, the worlds leading consumer of castor oil, also uses many alcohols, acids and other by-products of the Rilsan® and Pebax Rnew® manufacturing processes, which can be used by the perfumes and cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical or leather industries. Every last drop is put to good use, often replacing oil-based products
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Rilsan® is constantly conquering new markets due to its resistance to heat, chemical products, shocks and abrasion, as well as its lightness, suppleness and ease of use.
As a result? It is used for everything from garden furniture to cars; stadium seats to household appliances, televisions to telephones, sports shoes to bike seats and aeronautics.
