Lanses Introduces 'Duretan Eco,' an Engineering Plastic Made from Recycled Glass Fiber Using Waste Glass

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] German specialty chemicals company LANXESS is introducing a new material called 'Durethan ECO,' a glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) made from recycled waste glass.

Durethan ECO is a PA6 material reinforced with glass fibers recycled from residual glass generated during the glass fiber manufacturing process. Three types have been released with recycled glass fiber reinforcement ratios of 30%, 35%, and 60%, respectively.

LANXESS is increasing the use of recycled raw materials in the production of thermoplastic plastic compounds and composites to contribute to the transition from a throw-away society to a circular economy and to continuously improve the sustainability of plastics. Ultimately, the company aims to sustain growth with reduced dependence on resource consumption, reduce its carbon footprint, and achieve environmental protection.

◆ Suitable for various automotive parts with physical properties equivalent to conventional PA compounds = Although Durethan ECO PA6 compounds are made from recycled waste glass, they possess physical properties and quality equivalent to conventional glass fiber reinforced products. Durethan ECO can be processed using existing injection molding equipment to produce the same products with the same processes, while also benefiting from sustainability-certified materials.

LANXESS expects Durethan ECO products to be widely applied in the automotive industry. Notably, their excellent strength and stiffness make them suitable for manufacturing automotive structural parts such as front ends, pedal bearing brackets, and A, B, and C pillars. They can also be applied to lightweight battery trays for electric vehicles.

Durethan ECO has been evaluated based on the mass balance method by the independent inspection organization Ecocycle and has obtained the 'ecoloop' certification according to the international environmental product standard ISO 14021:2016.

◆ Expanding eco products using recycled raw materials with carbon footprint reduction production processes = LANXESS plans to gradually expand its range of eco products certified by the mass balance method. In addition to Durethan ECO, a new Durethan PA6 material with a reduced carbon footprint through eco-friendly production processes will be launched soon.

LANXESS is developing sustainable raw materials by using waste glass fibers extracted from end-of-life parts for new glass fiber production. Since waste glass melts at a lower temperature, it is advantageous for energy savings and CO2 emission reductions. Above all, it saves glass raw materials, reducing resource use and eliminating the need for waste glass disposal.

The mass balance approach is an initiative started by the UK environmental nonprofit organization Ellen MacArthur Foundation and is adopted by many global companies, including plastic manufacturers, to promote circular economy and recycling of industrial and post-consumer waste.

By applying the mass balance concept, which calculates the input amount of raw materials and the output amount after processing to determine the accumulation amount in the final product, it is possible to mathematically calculate the amount of recycled raw materials allocated to the final product even when mixed with other raw materials during production. This mass balance approach tracks the extent to which recycled raw materials contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions and certifies their proportion in the final product.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.