Invista makes patent progress

Invista, a global company specializing in the development of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers for the nylon and polypropylene (PP) value chains, has been granted a patent for a nylon recycling process it says could improve nylon 66 manufacturing by making more high-quality postindustrial recycling feedstock available.

Additionally, the Wichita, Kansas-based company has submitted a second patent application for a process that enables the use of up to 100 percent postconsumer resin (PCR) in the production of new nylon 66 components, a process designed to enhance the polymer’s viability for future applications.

Invista says the patent and patent application align with its stewardship framework and build on its commitment to using fewer resources. Both technologies are designed to help producers and recycling companies expand their production capabilities, with the goal of optimizing resource management and offer enhanced recycling capability for nylon 66.

“Invista is committed to innovation and creating long-term value for our customers,” says Jerry Grunewald, the company’s vice president of research and development. “As our customers continue to prioritize environmental responsibility and reducing product carbon footprint, we want to be a preferred partner in the development of technologies that help our customers meet their goals.”

Along with its internal efforts to advance nylon 66 recycling technologies, Invista says its research and development (R&D) team is supporting external technology leaders and innovative startups that are working on their own solutions for nylon66 depolymerization. Invista adds that these companies are utilizing its expertise in nylon 66 chemical intermediates and polymerization to accelerate and evaluate their technologies. Invista says it also is actively seeking collaborations with other companies that are developing their own nylon 66 depolymerization solutions.

“The patent and patent application, along with the work we are doing with our external partners, demonstrate our commitment to invest in emerging technologies that will support nylon 66 into the future,” Grunewald says. “Invista is well positioned to both work with third parties and within our own internal capabilities to drive these advancements.”

The first patent family, which was granted in the United States, China and Europe last fall, covers a method to recycle high relative viscosity (RV) nylon. The process enables the broader use of mechanically recycled RV nylon 66 feedstock, which the company says historically has been unsuitable in key downstream applications.

The company's patent application describes an ammonolysis process to convert a nylon 66 or nylon 6 blended postconsumer recycled feed stream back to hexamethylene diamine and caprolactam, the monomers required for making nylon 66 and nylon 6. While early in development, the company says this chemical recycling technology is predicted to have high yields and produce monomers with virgin-equivalent properties based on initial R&D test results with virgin-equivalent properties.