Raw Materials
Next generation of non-phthalate Ziegler/Natta catalyst for polypropylene
The new PP grade is a fully recyclable mono-material, which represents an alternative to a conventional PP core/polyethylene (PE) sheath bicomponent solution. Polypropylene (PP) is widely used in textile applications such as carpets and diapers. The end-uses and production processes require polymers with the highest purity. PP is produced using a Ziegler–Natta catalyst (also called …
Rice and wood – building for the future on Japan’s natural resources and fiber legacy
Many of Japan’s major corporations began as fiber manufacturers, and their expansion has been decades long, typically involving diversification into other fields such as chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, real estate, etc. Asahi Kasei, Kuraray, Teijin, Toray Industries and Toyobo, for example, all emerged as manufacturers of viscose rayon in the 1920s and have remained …
Previewing The Fiber Year 2020
The 20th anniversary edition of The Fiber Year includes important improvements for participants along the value chain – a distinct differentiation between fiber supply and the volume entering textile processing. This refers to fiber inventory changes and delivers enhanced insights into processing volumes. A projection for last year‘s final end-use will enrich key figures along …
Bicomponent fiber – get more than 2x
A biocomponent fiber, or bico, is a fiber that combines two separate polymers into a single filament. The term conjugate fiber is also used as a synonym. The process of making a bicomponent fiber is relatively straightforward. There are a number of patents that describe this practice. Commonly, the fiber is constructed of two …
A strange brew – genetically engineered polymeric fibers
Over the past century, man has truly harnessed the power of artificial polymer materials; polymeric fiber materials have allowed for applications not possible with the use of natural fibers. Driven by cost, ease of processing and variety of applications, the use of synthetic polymer fibers has expanded to all corners of life. However, these polymers …