Asahi Kasei & Aquafil to Boost 3D Printing with Cellulose Nanofiber and Recycled PA6
Last update on Oct 16, 2024
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aquafil S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer of polyamide 6 (PA6). The two companies have partnered to develop a novel material for 3D printing (3DP) applications. This new material combines Aquafil's ECONYL® Polymer, a chemically recycled PA6, with Asahi Kasei's cellulose nanofiber (CNF).
Repurposing PA Waste for New Material Development
The initiative is supported by ITOCHU Corporation, which has made a capital investment in Aquafil. Pellets or filaments of the compound offer superior formability and strength, making them ideal for automotive and aeronautical applications.
ECONYL® Polymer is a chemically recycled PA6 derived from post and pre-consumer waste. Utilizing polyamide waste such as used fishing nets, old carpets, industrial waste and so on, the material is first depolymerized into monomers, and then re-polymerized into ECONYL® Polymer chips.
Asahi Kasei's CNF is made from cotton linter and features high heat resistance and network-forming ability. Furthermore, CNF has superior material recyclability compared to glass fiber. The new CNF/ECONYL® Polymer compound features excellent formability and strength especially in 3DP usage, and Asahi Kasei sees a great potential in high-performance applications mainly in the automotive and aeronautical fields.
Asahi Kasei plans to begin trial sales of filament of the new compound material in the EU, US, and Japan in Q3 2025. The new material will be showcased at the upcoming Fakuma (15-19 October, Germany), Sustainable Material Expo (29-31 October, Japan), and Formnext (19-22 November, Germany).
Source: Asahi Kasei
Source
Asahi Kasei