The US didnt only lose soldiers, airplane and warships but likewise access to about 90% of the natural rubber it depended on when Japan assaulted Pearl Harbor in 1941. They started to produce synthetic rubber. After the war, the production of artificial rubber caused the discovery of numerous synthetic fibers– consisting of elastane, or Spandex.
The fiber was developed by chemist Joseph Shivers in 1958 and, given that then, has been used in numerous of our clothing, from sportswear to trousers. While comfortable, elastane has produced a recycling issue. As separating elastane from other fibers isnt currently feasible, clothes generally end up in landfills. Only 15% of the material utilized for clothing is recycled.
Clothes are mainly made by winding the main fibers, such as nylon or cotton, around elastane fibers, a flexible material that enables the fabric to stretch. Now, a team of scientists has produced a new method that can get rid of elastane from other fibers and minimize waste.
” Weve established a method to get rid of elastane completely from nylon. Were not quite there yet with cotton, due to the fact that some of the cotton fibres are broken down while doing so. We think that, with some minor changes, we can fix this problem,” Steffan Kvist Kristensen, one of the study authors, said in a news release.
Elastane is used in many of sportswear. Image credits: PxHere.
A hot new approach
After the war, the production of artificial rubber led to the discovery of numerous artificial fibers– including elastane, or Spandex.
For the technology to take off, large chemical plants would have to be involved. Kristensen said its more most likely for Germany to take the lead as it has a few of the biggest plants in the world. Theses production business will require to see an important service design in buying recycled materials and using them in the production of brand-new fibers. Hopefully as the approach is further studied, we can scale approximately lower pollution.
Elastane fibers consist of long chains of particles called polymers. The fibers can only be broken apart by breaking these chains, discusses Kristensen.
Clothes are mainly made by winding the primary fibers, such as nylon or cotton, around elastane fibers, a flexible material that allows the material to stretch. Now, a team of researchers has actually produced a new technique that can remove elastane from other fibers and minimize waste.
The study was published in journal Green Chemistry.
Up until now, the scientists have actually tried their method with two nylon stockings at a time. This recommends that its not yet prepared for industrial-scale usage, which would be needed to decompose bigger quantities of clothing. “We can only scale things up a little because of the limitations in our equipment,” Kristensen stated, still hopeful for its future growth.
Potassium hydroxide is one of the primary ingredients in regular drain cleaners. The scientists do not fully comprehend why, however including it accelerates the process. “It increases the reactivity of our alcohol. Either that, or the bonds are broken down a little by the potassium hydroxide, so its much easier for the alcohol to break them,” Kristensen stated.
When they open the cover once again, the fibers are separated. As the resulting materials require to be recycled, using severe chemicals wasnt an option.
As separating elastane from other fibers isnt currently practical, clothing normally end up in land fills. Elastane fibers consist of long chains of particles called polymers.
