Radici and The Lycra Company announce recycling breakthrough
Radici InNova, the research and innovation division of Bergamo-based fibre producer Radici, has announced the development of a recycling process for polyamide/Lycra blended fabrics that can selectively dissolve and recover both synthetic polymers in a form which allows them to be re-used to make new garments. The process has been validated in partnership with The Lycra Company and German lingerie brand Triumph.
The patented process is said to use non-toxic, non-flammable and environmentally compatible solvents, and can be applied to the two most common forms of nylon in apparel (PA6 and PA66). Radici claims that it is economically sustainable as it enables the recovery of both components, the nylon and the Lycra elastane fibre, regardless of their respective proportions in the fabric. The solvent used is recovered as well.
Nylon/elastane blends are commonly used in swimwear, activewear and hosiery.
The research project was launched four years ago by Radici InNova with the goal of identifying a suitable dissolution and separation process for mixed fibre blended fabrics. The validation process was conducted with The Lycra Company and Triumph, which supplied production surplus materials containing 16% Lycra. The recovered elastane was then re-spun by The Lycra Company, and the regenerated nylon made into Renycle by RadiciGroup. The recycled yarns were then used to make 60 metres of black fabric that Triumph used to manufacture matching bras and briefs.
This successful trial confirmed the technical feasibility of the process and lays the groundwork for future industrial scale.
Read our feature on recycling blends with elastane here.
