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Enka® Nylon BIO

Yarns from Bio-based Polymers

Sustainable options for technical textiles.

Our investigations revealed potential bio-based candidate – a PA 4.10 polymer as ”drop in“ alternative for current fossil-based products.

Diolen® – bio-based and bio-degradable high-tenacity polyester yarn

Diolen® yarn

  • Based on polylactic acid polymer (PLA)
  • 100% bio-based
  • Biodegrades under industrial
  • composting conditions
  • Shows low moisture absorption
  • Provides good UV stability
  • Low flammability
Remark:

Biodegradation after storage under composting condition accordance to EN 14046:2003; Source: ITV Denkendorf

Remark:

*) Source ”Polylactic acid fibers“, D W FARRINGTON et al., NatureWorks LLC

Diolen® – technical high-tenacity yarn

  • Diolen® demonstrates superior tensile performance over textile yarns
  • Diolen® is an option for a variety of sustainable applications, e.g.:
    • Substitution for non-biodegradable fixtures in agricultural and horticultural environments
    • Sustainable packaging reinforcement for paper-based adhesive tapes
Polymer Melting Temperature,Tm Glass Transition Temperature,Tg Density Moisture Uptake at 50% PH* Tensile Modulus dry* Tensile Modulus Conditioned 50% RH* Bio-base CO2 Emission*
oC oC g/cm3 % MPa MPa %  Kg polymer
PLA 160-180 55-60 1.24 0.2 2900-3000 n.a. 100 0.6
PET 250-260 70 1.38 0.4 2800-3100 n.a. 0 3.4

Polymer properties of bio-based PLA polymer vs. fossil-based PET polymer
*) Sources: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Vol.6, no.4, August 2010, Industrial Biotechnology, Natureworks

Enka® Nylon BIO – bio-based high-tenacity polyamide yarn

Enka® Nylon BIO – bio-based high-tenacity polyamide yarn For existing technical fiber applications it would be particularly advantageous if yarns manufactured from bio-based polymers could be considered as so-called ”drop in“ alternatives for current fossil-based products. In this case, similar processing conditions could be used without the need to make significant adaptions. In comparison to fossil-based PA 6.6 polymer, the bio-based PA 4.10 polymer was judged to provide a very good match:

  • Melting temperature and glass transition temperature are at the level of PA 6.6
  • Lower density than PA 6.6
  • Picks up less moisture Provides 40 % higher tensile modulus under humid storage conditions
  • 70 % bio-based
  • CO2 emission balance is almost zero

Technical bio-based PA 4.10 yarn VS. Technical fossil-based PA 6.6 yarn

Spinning evaluations carried out on an industrial scale proved that the bio-based PA 4.10 polymer can be converted into technical multifilament yarn:

  • Tensile characteristics are largely comparable to those of fossil-based PA 6.6 technical yarns
  • At low elongations, the modulus of bio-based PA 4.10 yarn is certainly at the level of PA 6.6
  • Elongation at break is higher
  • Breaking force is slightly lower
  • In Mechanical Rubber Goods application PA 4.10 yarns/ cords provide good adhesion to rubber and fatigue resistance at the level of reference PA 6.6
Polymer Melting Temperature,Tm Glass Transition Temperature,Tg Density Moisture Uptake at 50% PH* Tensile Modulus dry* Tensile Modulus Conditioned 50% RH* Bio-base CO2 Emission*
oC oC g/cm3 % MPa MPa %  Kg polymer
Bio PA 4.10 250 70 1.09 3100 2900-3000 1750 70 0
PA 6.6 255 74 1.14 32500 2800-3100 1250 0 6.4

Polymer properties of bio-based PA 4.10 vs. fossil-based PA 6.6,
*) Sources: DSM primary data for PA 4.10 (EcoPaXX), Plastics Europe eco-profiles for PA 6.6