Net gain

Companies seeking to incorporate ocean-bound recycled plastics—specifically from fishing nets—into their products are gaining options. For example, Avient recently introduced long-fiber-reinforced resins that contain nylon 6 reclaimed from end-of-life fishing nets.

Complet R nylon 6 fiber composites are the first recycled-content long-fiber composite materials offered by Avient, headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio.

“Our customers are requesting our help to provide sustainable solutions for their products,” says Steve Ouendag, an application development manager for Avient Long Fiber Technologies. “At Avient, we’re consistently seeking ways to support these requests by incorporating the use of recycled materials into new applications.

“Long-fiber composites present a particular challenge because not all recycled nylons are compatible with our manufacturing process,” Ouendag continues. “We can only use very clean and consistent recycled-material streams to provide the dependable, high performance our customers expect from our long-fiber composites. The material sourced from recycled fishing nets performs very much like virgin nylon in our manufacturing process and in meeting the demanding performance standards for these composites. In addition, by helping to eliminate a significant source of plastic waste from our environment, we can further address our sustainability objectives and those of our customers.”

The composites can help manufacturers meet their goals for using recycled materials. They are suitable for structural applications used in demanding environments, such as lightweight outdoor recreation gear and office furnishings that contribute toward LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for buildings, according to the company.

The resins also are suitable for use in electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, where lightweighting is important. Recycled plastic that replaces heavier materials such as metal and glass can improve fuel efficiency and vehicle range and reduce carbon emissions.

The stiffness, strength and toughness of the new resins are similar to those of comparable virgin composites, the company says. These attributes allow the resins to be used as an alternative to metals in many applications requiring weight reductions.

Complet R nylon 6 composites are available in black with various levels of postconsumer content. They are reinforced with glass fibers, carbon fibers or combinations of the two. Grades are available with 20 percent to 60 percent fiber loading, depending on the fiber type. The options allow customers to meet different performance and sustainability requirements, Avient says.

The composites can help manufacturers meet their goals for using recycled materials. They are suitable for structural applications used in demanding environments, such as lightweight outdoor recreation gear and office furnishings that contribute toward LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for buildings, according to Avient.

DSM material gains new applications

Meanwhile, DSM Engineering Materials, which is headquartered in the Netherlands with U.S. offices in Troy, Michigan; Evansville, Indiana; and Cupertino, California, has partnered with Samsung Electronics for an application for its Akulon RePurposed high-performance resin, which contains material from repurposed fishing nets.

Samsung’s new Galaxy S22 series smartphones and Tab S8 series tablets incorporate Akulon RePurposed in key components, including the Galaxy S22 series’ key bracket and inner cover of the S Pen (stylus), as well as the Tab S8 series’ inner support bracket.

Samsung says its collaboration with DSM will help the electronics maker reduce its environmental footprint and achieve its sustainability goal of incorporating recycled materials in all new mobile products by 2025.

DSM says it hopes Samsung’s incorporation of polyamide (PA) from fishing nets inspires other manufacturers to take similar steps. The company described Akulon RePurposed as an eco-conscious polymer that can be reinforced with glass fiber and is made with at least 80 percent recycled PA 6, also known as nylon. The company uses discarded ocean-bound fishing nets collected in and around the Indian Ocean.

The product offers good mechanical performance, the company says, and is already being used in automobiles and consumer goods.

Akulon RePurposed is available in different formulations. It can contain 100 percent PA 6 or a blend of PA 6 and PA 66 with various concentrations of glass fiber.

“Akulon RePurposed is made of 100-percent-recycled polymer,” a company spokesperson tells Plastics Recycling. “The percentage of recycled polyamide 6 can vary depending on the grade, which comes in different compositions, in view of the required specifications of the application of the customer as indicated on our website. For Samsung ... it is 80 percent recycled polyamide 6. We are continuously improving our processes and products. Today, we are able to supply Akulon RePurposed with 100 percent recycled polyamide 6 contents.”

Akulon RePurposed “helps maintain clean beaches and healthy marine life and helps the local community,” the company says in an emailed statement.

The author is a senior staff reporter with Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and can be emailed at bgeiselman@endeavorb2b.com.