It is reported that the first new bio-based spandex product in China was born, becoming the only bio-based spandex fiber product in the world whose biocarbon content reaches the EU three-star standard (EU OK Biobased standard)!
Recently, the team of Professor Guo Kai of Nanjing University of Technology joined hands with Lianyungang Duzhong Xinaoshen Spandex Co., Ltd. and SUMEC Textile International Group to design and develop new bio-based spandex materials, new structures and products. The developed bio-based spandex fibers have various properties. It has reached superior grade, the cost is much lower than that of international counterparts, and the biocarbon content is much higher than that of similar international products. The project also developed three new brands of bio-based spandex, and the new structures of related products have been authorized for domestic and foreign invention patent protection.
Signing Ceremony
Spandex is known as the MSG in textiles. There is a saying in the textile and clothing industry that “no cloth can be made without ammonia”. The global output value of textiles containing spandex fiber exceeds 330 billion yuan every year. Compared with conventional spandex, bio-based spandex uses renewable biomass as raw material to replace non-renewable petroleum-based raw materials. It has the advantages of environmental friendliness, renewable raw materials, low production carbon footprint, and degradability. It is in line with the green and sustainable fiber manufacturing. The concept of sustainable development is a key product under development in the international textile material field. However, existing similar products from the United States and South Korea are extremely expensive and have biocarbon content of less than 40%.
“The conventional idea of preparing bio-based spandex is to use bio-based polytetrahydrofuran to prepare bio-based spandex. The process route is long and the product cost is high. We adopt a completely different route from polytetrahydrofuran bio-based spandex, using new bio-based raw materials and Spandex preparation idea, after molecular structure design and polymerization process transformation, 70% of the ingredients of spandex fiber come from bio-based raw materials. Compared with the same products made from fossil raw materials, its carbon footprint can be reduced by up to 44%, while maintaining the traditional The same performance parameters as Lycra fiber.” Professor Sun Jie of Nanjing University of Technology, a member of the project team, said that spandex fiber has extremely strict requirements on spinning raw materials and product performance. The viscosity of the spinning stock solution must be moderate, and the performance of the spun fiber should be in elongation. The rate, recovery rate, tensile strength, tension attenuation rate and other aspects must meet the standards. “For example, the 20D bio-based spandex fiber is extremely thin, and the 9,000-meter-long fiber only weighs 20 grams. At the same time, the wearing comfort and material elasticity must be taken into consideration.” , spinning yield and other comprehensive requirements, development is extremely difficult. After nearly five years of joint research and hundreds of adjustments to experimental plans, technical formulas, and process routes, we developed this new bio-based spandex product.”
New bio-based spandex products
Jiangsu is a major textile and clothing manufacturing province. High-end textiles are one of the 16 advanced manufacturing clusters in Jiangsu Province, and brand clothing is one of the 30 advantageous industrial chains in Jiangsu Province.
“In order to further accelerate the industrialization progress of bio-based spandex products and increase market promotion efforts, make new contributions to cultivating world-class high-end textile clusters in Jiangsu and achieving excellence in the brand clothing industry chain, and provide new support for the advancement of my country’s dual-carbon strategy, recently, We have joined forces with Lianyungang Duzhong Xinaoshen Spandex Co., Ltd., SUMEC Textile International Group and Nanjing Advanced Biomaterials and Process Equipment Research Institute to further cooperate on the ‘bio-based spandex research and development, industrialization and promotion’ project,” Professor Guo Kai said.
It is reported that Nanjing University of Technology will license a technology package containing 8 invention patents, and Lianyungang Duzhong Xinaoshen Spandex Company and SUMEC Textile International Group have invested more than 200 million yuan in patent licensing fees and technology research and development fees. At present, the “Omina” bio-based spandex trademark jointly applied by the four parties has entered the review stage of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. In the next step, the four parties will focus on the industrial production of bio-based spandex fibers and the marketing of fabrics and clothing.