Materials innovator Celanese Corporation and sportswear company Under Armour have together developed a new fibre for performance stretch fabrics.
- The new material, called Neolast, will offer the apparel industry a high-performing alternative to elastane—an elastic fibre that gives apparel stretch, commonly called spandex.
- This new alternative could unlock the potential for end users to recycle performance stretch fabrics, a legacy aspect that has yet to be solved in the pursuit of circular manufacturing with respect to stretch fabrics, the two organisations have claimed.
- Celanese intends to make the fibre available to the broader apparel industry.
The new material: Neolast fibres feature the powerful stretch, durability, comfort and improved wicking expected from elite performance fabrics yet are also designed to begin addressing sustainability challenges associated with elastane, including recyclability.
- The fibres are produced using a proprietary solvent-free melt-extrusion process, eliminating potentially hazardous chemicals typically used to create stretch fabrics made with elastane.
- Neolast fibres will be produced using recyclable elastoester polymers, a critical first step for the industry to address the challenge of recycling blended fabrics containing elastane.
- As end-users transition to a more circular economy, Celanese and Under Armour are exploring the potential of the fibres to improve the compatibility of stretch fabrics with future recycling systems and infrastructure.
What they said:
Working with a leading global brand like Under Armour to elevate the performance and sustainability benefits of their products is just the first of many great things we hope to accomplish with this innovative Neolast technology. Celanese is proud to bring its polymer expertise and technical know-how to help manufacture Neolast fibres for textiles and fabrics to meet the specific needs of our customers and other value chain partners. We are just beginning to unlock its potential and look forward to what’s ahead as we explore other opportunities with end users.
— Tom Kelly
Senior Vice-President (Engineered Materials)
Celanese
This new Neolast fibre represents a transformative innovation for Under Armour and the textile industry, embodying our commitment to building better products for our consumers and planet. Through performance-driven sustainability and innovation, we look forward to helping athletes play at the top of their game as we work with Celanese to realize this new fibre’s potential to forge a path toward circularity.
— Kyle Blakely
Senior Vice-President (Innovation)
Under Armour
