When ppsu, pa46, and pa11 all carry bio-based labels! new product insights from basf, arkema, and wote

In recent years, I have visited the Rubber & Plastics Exhibition.The term "bio-based" is appearing more frequently, but honestly, the perception has always been quite divided.

On the one hand, nearly every booth is talking about sustainability, carbon reduction, and green initiatives; on the other hand, a large amount...The “bio-based” exhibits are essentially still biodegradable materials such as PLA and PBAT, positioned for daily packaging and disposable products. For professionals in the modified plastics industry, this bears almost no relation to the automotive gears, electronic connectors, and precision structural components they produce.

At CHINAPLAS 2026, this sense of division has noticeably diminished. It's not that there are fewer degradable materials, but rather, alongside them, a new batch of "Bio-based Materials 2.0" has emerged.. It isHigh-performance, high-value-added products directly competing with traditional petrochemical-based engineering plastics.

The emergence of these products means that biobased materials are moving from a“Environmental Protection Story” → “Material Upgrade Story”

I. BASF BiobasePPSU

BASF launched a product at this exhibitionUltrason® P 3010 BMB 。

Ultrason is BASF's polysulfone (PPSU/PESU) series brand, positioned as a special engineering plastic, mainly used in medical devices, catering supplies, and baby bottles, where the safety requirements for materials are extremely high. These fields have traditionally almost entirely relied on PEI (polyetherimide).Polyphenylene sulfonePPSU）With superior chemical resistance and transparency, it is gradually replacingPart of PEI's market.

"BMB" is the abbreviation for Biomass Balance, which means "biomass balance." In simple terms, when BASF produces PPSU, it replaces some of the fossil-based raw materials with bio-circular raw materials. Through the ISCC PLUS certified closed-loop mass balance system, it ensures that the bio-based content in the final product is traceable and verifiable.

Image source: BASF

Compared with traditional materials,PPSU is more heat-resistant and chemical-resistant than polycarbonate (PC); it has better toughness than PESU; compared to metals and ceramics, it can achieve lightweight and complex structure injection molding.

The technical significance of this matter lies in，Ultrason P 3010 BMB offers identical performance, certifications, and specifications to standard PPSU, allowing customers to switch directly without mold modifications or requalification. This means "greening" no longer comes at the expense of performance or requires lengthy supply chain transition periods.

What is more noteworthy is that BASF has brought not onlyThis product is not just the BMB series, but all six PPSU grades have obtained the EU Food Contact Regulation 2024/3190 certification. Previously, the market had been very cautious about non-PEI materials. It is unique for a specialty engineering plastic brand to simultaneously obtain both EU Food Contact Certification and Bio-based Balance Certification.

Observation found,The concepts of bio-based and sustainability are permeating into the levels of material forms and process pathways, rather than just remaining as labels for the source of raw materials.

II. Wote Shares BiobasePA46, the most aggressive one in tearing off labels

BASF uses bio-based circular raw materials to partially replace fossil raw materials within the existing system. Wat Co., Ltd.Wouper PA46 Switch to bio-based materials at the molecular source.

This product inThe product launched on April 21, 2026 at CHINAPLAS 2026 uses 1,4-butanediamine as its core raw material, which is synthesized by Shenzhou Biotech, a subsidiary of China Resources Double Happiness, through microbial fermentation. Starting from a bio-based sugar source, this synthesis route is completely different from traditional chemical methods. This means that the "bio-based content" in PA46 is not calculated as a proportion through mass balance, but rather originates from the monomer level through biofermentation.

In terms of performance, Wat’s announced specifications directly benchmark against EnHuaLi.Stanyl series，Application scenarios cover transmission bearing cages, oil pump gears.Type-C connector, BTB connector, etc.。

Bio-basedThe strategic significance of PA46 is not only green, but also differentiated breakthrough. The PA46 variety has been dominated by DSM/Engelhard for 40 years, making it very difficult for Chinese enterprises to catch up in material performance.

III. ArkemaLong carbon chainPA11and transparent polyamide

Long-chain nylons represent another key battleground for bio-based high-performance materials. At this exhibition, two noteworthy exhibits come from Arkema and Envalior.

Arkema's

Akrochem

In recent years, with the increasing demands for lightweighting and durability in new energy vehicles and consumer electronics,The penetration rate of PA11 in fields such as hoses, sensor housings, and cable assemblies is rapidly increasing.

Furthermore,Pebax^®Thermoplastic Elastomer and Rilsan^® Clear Transparent PolyamideAlso exhibited by Arkema ABC (Advanced Bio-based Circular) High-Performance Bio-based Circular Material。

It is worth noting that2026, Arkema Investment200 million dollars 140 million Chinese yuan to build a new one in SingaporeRilsan® Clear transparent polyamide (PA11)Production facilityFully constructed and officially put into operationGlobal capacity will increase to the original level. 。

Image source: Arkema

CaiSai Biotechnology: Bio-based Polyamides“The Chinese Solution”

Cathay Biotech’s layout represents China’s systematic advantage in the bio-based polyamide sector.The products displayed at CHINAPLAS 2026 International Rubber and Plastics Exhibition include BIOSYNOMER® DC9 azelaic acid, BIOSYNAMID® EX700 ultra-long chain polyamide series, ECOPENT® PA5T/X high-flow BioPPA and long-chain high-temperature polyamide series, PENTPLAST® bio-based polyamide elastomers, and BIOBARRTM high-barrier polyamide, covering multi-scenario applications in automotive, electronics, industry, packaging, and consumer sectors.

The core products of GenScript arePA56 (biobased pentamethylene diamine + adipic acid polymerization), with the key step being the production of pentamethylene diamine through biological fermentation, uses biomass raw materials such as corn to replace petroleum. The structural feature of PA56 is its "odd-numbered carbon" molecular chain, which, compared to even-numbered carbon varieties like PA66, has better flame retardancy, moisture absorption, and dyeability, while also possessing high fluidity and low warpage.

Currently, the Wusu factory of Kexi Bio has a production capacity of bio-based pentamethylene diamine.50,000 tons, 100,000 tons of bio-based polyamide capacity; the "500,000 tons per year of bio-based pentamethylene diamine and 900,000 tons per year of bio-based polyamide project" of the Taiyuan factory is under construction.

More importantly, Cathay is scaling up bio-based polyamide production."Resin" extends towards "composite materials"。The bio-based polyamide continuous fiber composite material it developed exhibits mechanical properties comparable to those of metals and thermoset composites, while also offering recyclability. This means that bio-based polyamide composites have the potential to replace aluminum alloys in automotive lightweighting applications and replace fiberglass-reinforced plastics (FRP) in industrial structural components.Dual competitiveness in performance and sustainability.

When viewed together, the exhibits aboveCHINAPLAS 2026 sends out a clear signal.，Bio-based high-performance materials are undergoing a transformation.Redefine

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