Arkema unveils Rilsan® HT designed to replace metal

Ref: http://www.yourmetalnews.com
Monday, Jul 20, 2009

Launched in March 2009, Rilsan® HT for extrusion is the first flexible high-temperature thermoplastic to replace metal in high-temperature applications. Today, Arkema unveils Rilsan® HT injection resins. The Rilsan® HT range is now the first complete polyphtalamide (PPA)-based product line suitable for all process technologies, ranging from extrusion to blow or injection molding. Rilsan® HT resins are up to 70% bio-based and match the increasing environmental commitment of many industries.


PPA-based injection resins in automotive applications have increasingly replaced metal parts as a way to optimize costs, reduce emissions and weight, improve fuel economy and extend car life. Until now, PPA-based injection resins were more difficult and costly to process when compared to aliphatic high-performance polyamides.

Rilsan® HT offers easy processing and cost-efficient manufacturing
Rilsan® HT is the only PPA-based injection resin that offers processing characteristics similar to those of aliphatic high-performance polyamides. With mold temperatures close to those of PA12 and PA11, Rilsan® HT can be easily processed on standard injection-molding equipment using conventional water-cooled temperature control. Moreover, Rilsan® HT can be processed in injection molds designed for PA12 and PA11 thanks to similar mold shrinkage properties.

Unlike conventional PPA-based resins, Rilsan® HT has very low moisture uptake, which provides multiple benefits in manufacture and applications. Low moisture pickup means that Rilsan® HT resin is easily stored and requires no supplemental steps before processing. Low moisture absorption makes the resin easy to process and handle, and imparts reliable uniformity to the finished parts’ properties, which avoids further downstream processing and limits waste. The finished parts exhibit excellent dimensional stability.

Rilsan® HT builds its own class among the PPA polymers
Rilsan® HT injection grades have exceptional ductility not found in typical semi-aromatic injection resins. Thus Rilsan® HT resins deliver a designer-friendly balance of toughness, strength and elongation and reduce the risk of failures that can occur with brittle plastics, such as conventional PPA-based injection materials or PPS.

Conductivity combined with ductility make Rilsan® HT the first conductive PPA-based injection resin that perfectly balances high temperature resistance and excellent mechanical properties with conductivity – making it well suited for fuel system applications where conductivity is specifically required, as it is in the North American market.

Furthermore, Rilsan® HT is the only PPA-based injection resin that can be easily spin-welded with aliphatic high performance polyamides, a completely new processing feature for this material group. This offers further component integration and addresses the enhanced safety and emission standards of pipe connections in fuel-conducting systems.

Rilsan® HT injection grades - glass-fiber reinforced or formulated for conductivity - are ideally suited for metal replacement in fuel system applications requiring low permeation, low swelling and high thermal resistance. And the suitability of the injection grade for quick-connectors and other temperature resistant parts extends to powertrain components including those integrated with Rilsan® HT flexible tubing.

Rilsan® HT allows you to benefit from renewable materials
Largely derived from renewable non-food-crop vegetable feedstock, Rilsan® HT is a durable high-temperature thermoplastic containing up to 70% renewable carbon. Rilsan® HT offers a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional petroleum-based high-temperature plastics, a reduced dependence on oil resources and a perfect fit with the eco-design concepts of many vehicle manufacturers.



With global brands like Rilsan® and Pebax®, unique products from renewable resources like Rilsan® Polyamide 11, Rilsan® HT, Pebax® Rnew and Platamid® Rnew, and leading capacities in Rilsan® Polyamide 11 and 12, Arkema’s Technical Polymers activity stands out in the industry by providing its customers with global coverage and superior regional service from production facilities and research centers in Europe, Asia, and the USA. Arkema has more than 30 years of experience and innovation serving the Automotive Industry, offering a wide range of advanced materials designed to match current and future specifications. Arkema’s Technical Polymers business is the acknowledged leader in bio-based high performance polyamides such as renowned Rilsan® Polyamide 11.

A global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, Arkema consists of three businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 5.6 billion euros in 2007. Arkema has 15,000 employees in over 40 countries and six research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.