Arkema | PA, TPE

Specialty polyamides and elastomers engineered for lightweight, flexible, and high-performance applications.

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OPP Arkema

Advanced material technologies combining durability, design freedom, and proven performance across demanding markets.

The most demanding applications often require materials that can do more than provide mechanical strength. Flexibility, low-temperature performance, chemical resistance, lightweighting, and long-term durability can all play an equally important role in determining how a component performs throughout its lifetime.

 

Arkema has developed a globally recognized portfolio of specialty polymers designed around these challenges. From the exceptional flexibility and energy return of Pebax® elastomers to the durability of Rilsamid® PA12 and the renewable origins and high performance of Rilsan® PA11, these materials enable manufacturers to rethink what is possible with thermoplastics.

 

Through Omya Performance Polymer Distribution, customers gain access to Arkema's advanced material technologies alongside local application expertise and dependable supply. Whether developing high-performance sports equipment, automotive systems, industrial components, consumer products, or advanced electrical applications, we help customers find the material characteristics that best match the demands of their design.

 

Coverage includes North America. 

OPP Arkema

Performance shaped around the application

Arkema's specialty polymers are designed for applications where conventional materials may reach their limits. Low density can support lightweighting; flexibility and resilience can improve dynamic performance; chemical and abrasion resistance can extend component life; and excellent low-temperature properties can maintain functionality in challenging environments.

This breadth of performance gives designers greater freedom to balance mechanical requirements with weight, aesthetics, sustainability, and processing efficiency. Omya Performance Polymer Distribution works alongside customers to translate these material capabilities into practical solutions for new and existing applications.

Arkema portfolio available through Omya Performance Polymer Distribution:

Pebax® thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)

Pebax® TPEs combine exceptional lightweight performance, flexibility, resilience, and energy return with excellent mechanical properties across a wide temperature range. Their distinctive balance of low density and dynamic performance has made Pebax® TPE materials particularly well suited to high-performance footwear and sports equipment, as well as consumer, industrial, and technical applications where flexibility, fatigue resistance, and weight reduction are important.

Rilsamid® polyamide 12 (PA12)

Rilsamid® PA12 is a high-performance polyamide offering excellent chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, dimensional stability, flexibility, and impact performance. Its reliable behavior under demanding operating conditions makes it suitable for automotive fluid handling, pneumatic systems, cable protection, industrial tubing, electrical components, consumer products, and precision engineering applications.

Rilsan® polyamide 11 (PA11)

Rilsan® PA11 is a high-performance polyamide derived entirely from renewable castor oil feedstock. Combining lightweight performance with excellent chemical resistance, impact strength, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and dimensional stability, it provides a compelling material solution for applications where both technical performance and sustainability are priorities. Typical uses span automotive and transportation, consumer goods, electrical applications, industrial systems, sports equipment, and fluid handling.

        Arkema specialty materials enable manufacturers to address demanding performance requirements across a diverse range of markets:

        • Sports, footwear, and leisure
          Performance footwear, running shoe components, ski boots, sports equipment, protective equipment, cycling products, and other applications where low weight, energy return, flexibility, impact performance, and durability can directly influence product performance.
        • Automotive and mobility
          Fuel and fluid lines, pneumatic tubing, cable protection, connectors, clips, under-the-hood components, lightweight mechanical parts, and other systems requiring chemical resistance, dimensional stability, flexibility, and durability.
        • Industrial
          Pneumatic systems, tubing, hoses, gears, mechanical components, fluid handling equipment, protective components, and machinery applications exposed to demanding mechanical or chemical environments.
        • Electrical and electronics
          Cable protection, connectors, electrical components, electronic devices, flexible components, and precision parts requiring durability, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, and reliable long-term performance.
        • Consumer goods
          Wearables, personal care products, eyewear, premium accessories, household products, sporting goods, and other applications where lightweight design, surface quality, flexibility, and durability contribute to both performance and user experience.
        • Wire and cable
          Cable jacketing, protective coverings, flexible cable components, and specialist wiring applications where abrasion resistance, flexibility, chemical resistance, and performance across changing temperatures are required.

        Why work with Omya Performance Polymer Distribution?

        Through Omya Performance Polymer Distribution, customers benefit from:

        • Reliable regional supply and logistics network
        • Local technical and application support
        • Material selection and grade optimisation
        • Processing expertise and troubleshooting
        • Deep experience across styrenics and engineering polymer technologies
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        Contact Omya Performance Polymer Distribution

        Contact Omya Performance Polymer Distribution to discuss grade selection and application support.

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        Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

        Each family addresses different material requirements. Pebax® is a thermoplastic elastomer known for its lightweight flexibility, resilience, and dynamic performance. Rilsamid® PA12 provides the strength and dimensional stability of an engineering polyamide alongside low moisture absorption, chemical resistance, and flexibility. Rilsan® PA11 combines high-performance polyamide properties with a renewable, castor oil-based feedstock, making it particularly attractive where technical performance and sustainability are both priorities.

        Pebax® offers an unusual combination of very low density, flexibility, resilience, and energy return. These characteristics allow designers to reduce weight while maintaining excellent dynamic performance, making selected grades particularly well suited to applications such as performance footwear and sporting equipment.

        Rilsan® PA11 is produced from 100% renewable castor oil feedstock rather than conventional fossil-based raw materials. Its renewable origin is combined with long service life and excellent mechanical, chemical, and abrasion performance, allowing sustainability considerations to be incorporated without sacrificing demanding engineering properties.

        Both PA11 and PA12 offer lower moisture absorption and greater dimensional stability than many conventional polyamides. PA11 typically provides excellent toughness, flexibility, impact and abrasion resistance and has the additional advantage of being derived from renewable castor oil. PA12 is valued for its very low moisture uptake, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, and dependable performance in precision, tubing, and fluid handling applications.

        Yes. Specialty polyamides such as Rilsan® PA11 and Rilsamid® PA12 are well suited to selected automotive fluid handling and tubing applications because of their combination of chemical resistance, flexibility, dimensional stability, and durability. The optimum grade depends on the fluid, temperature, pressure, and other operating requirements.

        Yes. Pebax®, Rilsan® PA11, and Rilsamid® PA12 can provide opportunities to reduce component weight while maintaining the mechanical and functional properties required by the application. Their balance of low density, toughness, flexibility, and durability makes them particularly interesting for mobility, sports, consumer, and industrial applications.

        The properties required from an Arkema material can vary considerably depending on the application. Omya Performance Polymer Distribution helps customers evaluate factors including flexibility, chemical exposure, operating temperature, mechanical loading, weight, processing requirements, and sustainability objectives to identify an appropriate grade and support its successful introduction into production.

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