Covestro Develops Elastic Fibers Made From Carbon Dioxide

German Polymer Co Covestro (Si Kechuang) is working hard to develop carbon dioxide (CO2) for industrial scale production of elastic fibers, which takes the place of oil as raw material.

The company has worked with Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University, Rheinisch Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen University, and various textile manufacturers to produce synthetic fiber prototypes using carbon dioxide - now seeking to become a listed product.

Elastic fibers are made of chemical components, some of which are replaced by carbon dioxide instead of petroleum raw materials. This precursor material, called cardyon, has been used in foam mattresses and sports flooring, and is currently being used in the textile industry.

The fiber is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) based on carbon dioxide and melt spinning, and its production process is to melt TPU and pressurize into very fine fibers, and finally process them into yarns. The company said it was different from dry spinning used in traditional production of synthetic elastic fibers, such as Elastane or Spandex, and melt spinning did not require harmful solvents for the environment.

This new chemical method can add carbon dioxide to the substrate, which has better carbon footprint than the traditional manufacturing method of elastic fibers.

For example, new fibers can be used for stockings and medical textiles, and can even replace traditional elastic fibers based on crude oil. TPU fibers based on carbon dioxide have been tested and manufactured into yarns, socks, compression pipes and tapes.

"This is a very promising way to use carbon dioxide as an alternative material for the chemical industry and expand the use of raw materials," said Convestro executive director Dr. Markus Steilemann. Our goal is to expand the use of carbon dioxide in the process of recycling economy and save the proportion of crude oil use.

Professor Thomas Gries, director of the Institute of textile technology, added: "in the near future, carbon dioxide based materials can become a sustainable substitute for traditional elastic fibers. With our expertise in industry development and processing, we can jointly promote the establishment of a new raw material base for the textile industry.

The project was previously funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and has now been optimized as part of the CO2Tex program, funded by the German Federal Ministry of education and Research (German Federal Ministry), so as to achieve industrial production in the future.