Circular Melt-Spun Textile Fibers from Polyethylene-like Long-Chain Polyesters

Abstract

As textiles contribute considerably to overall anthropogenic pollution and resource consumption, increasing their circularity is essential. We report the melt-spinning of long-chain polyesters, materials recently shown to be fully chemically recyclable under mild conditions, as well as biodegradable. High-quality uniform fibers are enabled by the polymers’ favorable combination of thermal stability, crystallization ability, melt strength, and homogeneity. The polyethylene-like crystalline structure endows these fibers with mechanical strength, which is further enhanced by its orientation upon drawing (tensile strength of up to 270 MPa). In vitro depolymerization by high concentrations of Humicola insolens cutinase underlines the accessibility of the fibers for enzymatic degradation, which can proceed from the surface and through the entire fiber within days, depending on the choice of the fiber material. Fibers and knitted fabrics withstand stress, as encountered in machine washing.