Difference between revisions of "Polyamide"

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{{Polyamide}}
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'''Polyamide 6 and 6,6''' are manufactured, man-made fibres that are formed from a chemical process using carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms. They differ in that they each begin with different polymer building blocks.1 The manufacturing process of Polyamide 6 and 6,6 is highly chemical and is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Also, the fibre and its resulting fabric are non-biodegradable. Efforts to address sustainability in these areas could help the overall impact of polyamide on the environment.
  
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'''Polyamide fibers''' are synthetic fibers used in the manufacture of textiles. International Polyamid is often called [[nylon]]. Originally nylon was a brand that was launched by the fiber manufacturer [[DuPont]] in 1938 but is now used to refer to polyamide fibers in general.
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== Benefits ==
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Polyamide 6 and Polyamide 6,6 share a lot of the same fibre characteristics. They have strong wear resistance, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, are lustrous, have a high melting point, and are resilient.1
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Polyamide 6,6 has greater resilience, a higher melting point, and lower stain permeability than polyamide 6, which makes polyamide 6,6 perfect for carpet.2
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The most notable characteristic of both polyamide 6 and 6,6 is versatility. Although originally developed as an “artificial silk,” it has been used for a vast variety of applications. Polyamide fibres are used for garments, sheer hosiery, parachute cloth, backpackers' tents, bridal veils, musical strings, rope, broom and tooth brush bristles, Velcro and many other applications.3
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<br/>Polyamide 6 and 6,6 blend well with other fibres, and their chief contributions are strength and abrasion resistance.1
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Polyamide 6 and 6,6 are machine washable, dry quickly, need little pressing, and holds shape well since they neither shrinks nor stretches, thereby minimizing water and energy use associated with consumer care and washing.4
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Due to their durability and abrasion resistance, some Polyamide 6 and 6,6 products have the potential to last and be worn many times, optimizing the energy and resources embodied in the product.
  
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The most common polyamide is ''polyamide 66'' (Polyamide), whose starting monomers, adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine. A similar variant is prepared by adding the reaction of caprolactam and the result is called ''polyamide 6'' or ''perlon''. There are a variety of polyamides with varying numbers of carbon atoms of monomers. The usual polyamide fibers are produced by melt spinning processes with additives of matting agents, optical brightening agents and catalysts. Later versions of the polyamides are the so-called [[aramids]]. These are made of aromatic diacids and diamines. They have very high melting points and therefore cannot be melted by spinning processes. They must be spun from solutions. The fiber class [[aramids]] include [[Nomex]] are often used in firefighter’s uniforms, and [[Kevlar]]. Kevlar has, in addition to [[flame retardant materials]], also reinforcing properties and is used instead of fiberglass where light weight is a requirement.
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== Potential impacts ==
  
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==Environmental impact==
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===Processing===
  
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The major environmental impact in the preparation of polyamide fibers is the high consumption of energy, both as raw materials (oil) and the melt-spinning. Polyamide is normally produced by melt spinning and low emissions are found when spinning. As in polyester production one must use spinning oils which will later be washed out before staining and finishing. Normally no dyes or flame retardants are added in melt spinning of polyamide, since they can leach out of the fibers during washing (cf. polyester where the substances are not leached out). The aramids are spun from a solution because of their high melting point which results in that you cannot spin them from a melted state.  
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===Dyeing and finishing===
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====Durable water repellents (DWR)====
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===Consumer care/washing===
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===End of use===
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==Alternatives to virgin polyamide==
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===Recycled polyamide===
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===Mechanical recycling===
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===Chemical recycling===
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==Optimize sustainability benefits==
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! style="background-color:#66cdaa;width:300px;color:#ffffff" | OPPORTUNITY
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! style="background-color:#66cdaa;width:300px;color:#ffffff" | BENEFITS
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! style="background-color:#66cdaa;width:300px;color:#ffffff" | CONSIDERATIONS
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|-
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| '''Know the difference between natural bamboo linen fabric, and bamboo made from a viscose process.''' || || Bamboo viscose is chemically processed and has greater pollution impacts to water and air.
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|-
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| '''Promote the use of linen from bamboo products.''' || Once the fibre is extracted from the stem, processing bamboo into yarn for linen is largely mechanical, with minimal environmental impact. || 
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|-
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| '''Promote the use of ozone bleaching processes to strip out the natural beige colour of linen (from flax). <br /><br />Promote the particular aesthetic of ozone bleach effects.''' || Ozone can used be with no water at all. || Ozone has limited availability, and is relatively expensive since it requires investment in ozone generating equipment. <br /><br />Ozone processes produce a different aesthetic than chlorine derivative or permanganate bleaching.
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|}
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==Availability==
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== End use==
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==Marketing opportunities==
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==Innovation opportunities==
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
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[[Textile Environmental Handbook]]
 

Revision as of 14:45, 2 April 2015

Polyamide 6 and 6,6 are manufactured, man-made fibres that are formed from a chemical process using carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms. They differ in that they each begin with different polymer building blocks.1 The manufacturing process of Polyamide 6 and 6,6 is highly chemical and is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Also, the fibre and its resulting fabric are non-biodegradable. Efforts to address sustainability in these areas could help the overall impact of polyamide on the environment.

Benefits

Polyamide 6 and Polyamide 6,6 share a lot of the same fibre characteristics. They have strong wear resistance, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, are lustrous, have a high melting point, and are resilient.1 Polyamide 6,6 has greater resilience, a higher melting point, and lower stain permeability than polyamide 6, which makes polyamide 6,6 perfect for carpet.2 The most notable characteristic of both polyamide 6 and 6,6 is versatility. Although originally developed as an “artificial silk,” it has been used for a vast variety of applications. Polyamide fibres are used for garments, sheer hosiery, parachute cloth, backpackers' tents, bridal veils, musical strings, rope, broom and tooth brush bristles, Velcro and many other applications.3
Polyamide 6 and 6,6 blend well with other fibres, and their chief contributions are strength and abrasion resistance.1 Polyamide 6 and 6,6 are machine washable, dry quickly, need little pressing, and holds shape well since they neither shrinks nor stretches, thereby minimizing water and energy use associated with consumer care and washing.4 Due to their durability and abrasion resistance, some Polyamide 6 and 6,6 products have the potential to last and be worn many times, optimizing the energy and resources embodied in the product.

Potential impacts

Processing

Dyeing and finishing

Durable water repellents (DWR)

Consumer care/washing

End of use

Alternatives to virgin polyamide

Recycled polyamide

Mechanical recycling

Chemical recycling

Optimize sustainability benefits

OPPORTUNITY BENEFITS CONSIDERATIONS
Know the difference between natural bamboo linen fabric, and bamboo made from a viscose process. Bamboo viscose is chemically processed and has greater pollution impacts to water and air.
Promote the use of linen from bamboo products. Once the fibre is extracted from the stem, processing bamboo into yarn for linen is largely mechanical, with minimal environmental impact.
Promote the use of ozone bleaching processes to strip out the natural beige colour of linen (from flax).

Promote the particular aesthetic of ozone bleach effects. 		Ozone can used be with no water at all. Ozone has limited availability, and is relatively expensive since it requires investment in ozone generating equipment.

Ozone processes produce a different aesthetic than chlorine derivative or permanganate bleaching.

Availability

End use

Marketing opportunities

Innovation opportunities

Sources

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