What is PA11?

PA11 is derived from the castor bean, which comes from the castor plant. These plants are environmentally friendly as they don’t require harmful fertilizers, use minimal water, and do not contribute to deforestation or compete with food crops.

The seeds from this plant are collected and pressed to extract castor oil. Our partner company Arkema transforms it into a substance called 11-Aminoundecanoic acid, which is the building block for PA11. This material undergoes polymerization and is then spun into fibres. Finally, IFG’s team add various additives tailored to meet our customers’ needs.

PA11’s qualities that make it suitable for a wide range of applications. It offers good UV stability, minimal water uptake and low density. Additionally, it significantly reduces CO2 emissions, as its carbon footprint can be up to 70% lower than conventional polyamides. Further information and specific data can be found in the data sheet.

These qualities make it an ideal solution for companies that want to use more sustainable materials in their applications.