Essentially Rubber: Faster, fitter, recyclable

Leading-edge designs and applications showing how elastomer materials contribute to all aspects of life and lifestyle in the 21st century:

Celanese and athletic apparel manufacturer Under Armour have collaborated to develop a new fibre for performance stretch fabrics. Named Neolast, the material is billed as a “high-performing alternative to elastane”, an elastic fibre commonly known as spandex. The new fibres are produced using a “proprietary solvent-free melt-extrusion process”, which according to Celanese eliminates potentially hazardous chemicals typically used to create stretch fabrics made with elastane. Furthermore, the fibres are produced using recyclable “elastoester polymers”, claimed to help the industry to address the challenge of recycling blended fabrics containing elastane. The two partners are currently exploring the potential of the fibres to improve the compatibility of stretch fabrics with future recycling systems and infrastructure.