Database/Absorbent/Nylon-611
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Nylon-611 natural?

It depends. Polyamide of an eleven-carbon diacid and hexamethylenediamine. The diamine is always petrochemical; the C11 diacid can be bio-based or synthetic and the supplier route is not stated, so the score is route-dependent.

INCI nameNylon-611
FunctionAbsorbent
FeedstockUndecanedioic acid polycondensed with hexamethylenediamine.

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
bio-based undecanedioic acidC11 diacid from castor-oil chemistry or fermentation, with petrochemical hexamethylenediamine0.61Diacyl C11H18O2 182.3/296.5 = 0.61.
petrochemical undecanedioic acidC11 diacid from petrochemical synthesis, with hexamethylenediamine0.00No natural carbon.
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Repeat unit C17H32N2O2 296.5 Da: undecanedioyl C11H18O2 182.3 Da is natural only when the C11 diacid is castor- or fermentation-derived (0.61); the hexamethylenediamine unit 114.2 Da is petrochemical in both routes. Headline shows the bio-based route.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Undecanedioic acid polycondensed with hexamethylenediamine.

In plain English

A synthetic polyamide powder used to absorb oil and give products a smooth, mattifying texture. Made by reacting a castor-oil-derived acid with a petrochemical diamine building block.

CosIng definition: Nylon-611 is a polyamide formed by the reaction undecanoic acid with hexylenediamine

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References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2NYLON-611. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3NYLON-611. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=NYLON-611