Nylon 11 - Rilsan B

The only engineering plastic of natural origin (derived from castor oil), it is a polyamide which, unlike the other nylons, does not absorb humidity. It has all the good mechanical features of polyamides: tensile stress, compressive strength, wear resistance, etc. Moisture content does not influence its shock resistance. It has very good ageing and resistance to low temperature (-50^oC). 


FEATURES 

Tensile stress, compressive strength and shock resistance values stable in moist as well as dry environments 
Wear resistance: very good even in dusty or demanding environments.  
Ageing and low temperature resistance. Self-lubricating; low friction coefficient.
Self-lubricating; low friction coefficient.
Generally for sliding applications it does not require lubricators
Colour: natural 


WEAK POINT
 
Although Nylon 11 has all the excellent mechanical features of polyamides without their weakest point (hygroscopicity), its high price prevents wider usage.


APPLICATION

Mechanical: thanks to the stability of its excellent mechanical features, both in moist environments and at low temperatures, it is used especially in aeronautic, marine, and transport applications, and in machinery as bushings, bearings, slide and mechanical parts. 

Food contact: it is physiologically inert and it is used in food processing machinery
 
Electrical: as it is not hygroscopic and its electrical properties are stable, it is widely used for electrical applications such as insulators. 

Chemical: it is resistant to solvents. 

The graph shows the percentage of humidity absorbed by PA11 - PA6 - PA66 in relation to the percentage of relative humidity.
On the ordinate : % of air relative humidity
On the abscissa: % of absorbed water.