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Bio-based, low-carbon-footprint transparent polyamides 

Arkema is the first manufacturer to provide high-performance, bio-based transparent polyamides. Rilsan® Clear Rnew® is a high-sustainability profile material made from renewable castor bean, which does not compete with food and does not cause deforestation. Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G820 grade with 62% bio-based carbon (ASTM D6866) and G850 grade with 45% bio-based grades (ASTM D6866) are ideal for reducing carbon footprint and achieving desirable transparent part design.  

Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamides for optical solutions

Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamides are ideally suited for optical solutions with high-performance properties.

  • Transparency & clarity
  • Lightweight
  • Flexibility for comfort and durability
  • Environment stress crack resistant
  • Chemical resistance
  • Fatigue resistance
  • Design freedom and colorability

Rilsan® Clear Polyamide vs. Other Transparent Materials

  • Superior chemical resistance to fuels, solvents (e.g., thinners), greases, and caustic alkalines

  • Excellent UV and aging resistance
  • Outstanding pressure resistance—ideal for parts exposed to repeated filtration cycles
  • High mechanical strength
  • Easy processing for efficient manufacturing
  • Low density (~1.01 g/cm³), beneficial when weight reduction is critical

High-transparency Polyamides Applications

Transparent Polyamides for Eyewear Applications

Arkema is the first manufacturer to offer high-performance, bio-based transparent polyamides designed for injection molding in optical applications. Rilsan® Clear Rnew® is the material of choice for its excellent sustainability profile: it is derived from renewable castor beans that do not compete with food and do not cause deforestation.

  • Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G820: 62% bio-based carbon (ASTM D6866)
  • Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G850: 45% bio-based carbon (ASTM D6866)

Both grades are engineered specifically for eyewear applications, offering lightweight, high-transparency, flexibility for comfort and chemical resistance and supporting customers' sustainability goals without compromising performance.

More about transparent polyamides for optics and eyewear applications 

 

 

High-Transparency Polyamides for Electronic Devices

Our transparent polyamide solutions include Rilsan® Clear PA11 and bio-based Rilsan® Clear Rnew® grades. Their high transparency, clarity, lightweight, and durability make them ideal for both aesthetic and functional components in electronics, such as glossy housings and internal structural parts. Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamides also offer unlimited design possibilities due to their easy colorability.

More about materials for electronic devices 

Transparent Polyamides for Kitchenware 

Rilsan® Clear and Rilsan® Clear Rnew® transparent polyamides deliver excellent toughness and resistance. Specific grades are designed to be dishwasher- and microwave-safe, making them perfect for kitchenware applications such a cookware, kitchen utensils and storage products. Food contact certifications are available upon request.

Transparent Polyamides for Cosmetic Packaging

With their unique combination of lightweight transparency, high gloss, and colorability, Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamides are ideal for luxury cosmetic packaging. Their chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and long-lasting durability make them an excellent choice for showcasing and protecting premium beauty products.

More about our materials for cosmetic packaging and personal care

Medical-Grade Transparent Polyamides

Arkema has developed transparent polyamides with excellent thermal resistance and high purity, approved for use in medical applications. Rilsan® Clear MED material is used for medical device applications in which patient comfort is required. Properties such as lightness and flexibility are critical to the patient receptivity of many home health care medical devices. For example, Rilsan® Clear MED material is commonly used in the design of breathing masks or hearing aids. For more sustainable options, Rilsan® Clear G850 RNEW® MED is a partially bio-based, transparent amorphous polyamide derived from renewable castor oil.

Download material technical datasheets: 

Rilsan® Clear G170 MED and Rilsan® Clear G850 Rnew® MED polyamides are more transparent than glass and more flexible than polycarbonate.

More about our portfolio for medical applications

Transparent Polyamides for Industrial Applications

Rilsan® Clear polyamides are perfectly suited for rigid, transparent components in industrial settings, especially where chemical resistance, visibility, and pressure tolerance are essential.

Common applications include:

  • Filter housings
  • Flow meters
  • Hoods
  • Portholes
  • Sight windows

These materials maintain long-lasting surface gloss, excellent scratch resistance, and superior chemical durability in environments exposed to industrial fluids. 

More about our material portfolio for industrial applications 

Advanced Bio-Circular (ABC) Materials 

These are not "just" bio-based materials.  They are truly advanced polymers that are derived from a sustainably farmed feedstock. The Pragati sustainable farming initiative helps to continue a deep societal impact, uplifting thousands of Indian farmers and their families. This social impact extends to environmental impact as ABC materials ultimately help the world reduce its carbon footprint... a carbon footprint that is further reduced when these ABC polymers are recycled & reused.

Go to Advanced Bio-Circular Materials 

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