October 9, 2024, in New York, Tokyo, and Düsseldorf A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was recently signed by the Italian producer of polyamide 6 (PA6), Aquafil S.p.A., and the Japanese technological business Asahi Kasei. With the help of ITOCHU Corporation, which has invested cash in Aquafil, the two firms decided to create a novel material for 3D printing (3DP) applications using Asahi Kasei’s cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and Aquafil’s ECONYL® Polymer, which is chemically regenerated PA6. This compound’s pellets or filaments have exceptional formability and strength, making them appropriate for usage in automotive and aerospace applications.
PA6 that has been chemically recycled from post- and pre-consumer waste is called ECONYL® Polymer. Making use of waste polyamide, such as old carpets and fishing nets, The material, which includes industrial waste, is first depolymerized into monomers and subsequently repolymerized to create ECONYL® Polymer chips.
Asahi Kasei’s CNF has a strong heat resistance and network-forming capacity. It is constructed of cotton linter. In addition, CNF is a more recyclable material than glass fiber. Asahi Kasei believes that the novel CNF/ECONYL® Polymer compound has a lot of potential for high-performance applications, namely in the automotive and aviation areas. It has exceptional formability and strength, especially when used in 3DP. In Q3 2025, Asahi Kasei intends to start trial sales of the novel compound material’s filament in the US, EU, and Japan. The next Fakuma (15–19 October, Germany), Sustainable Material Expo (29–31 October, Japan), and Formnext (19–22 November, Germany) will feature the novel material.
