PHBV Fiber

PHBV staple fiber - poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), a member of the PHA family - belongs to the company's bio-based/biodegradable fiber line and is a fully biodegradable polyester. The fiber has a density of about 1.25 g/cm³, a dry tenacity of 2.5–4.0 cN/dtex (lower than PET but workable), and an elongation at break of 15%–40%. The cross-section is made to order - round is standard, while trilobal, cruciform and hollow profiles can be spun for differentiated hand feel and moisture transport. The fiber comes in natural off-white or dope-dyed colors. With its smooth surface and moderate cohesion, it feeds dry-laid, wet-laid and airlaid nonwoven lines as well as ring, compact and rotor spinning routes, offering a renewable, biodegradable alternative to conventional single-use polyester staple.

1) Broad-spectrum biodegradation. The fiber breaks down under microbial action in soil, seawater, home compost, and industrial compost. No high-temperature facility is required.

2) Fully bio-based. The resin comes from renewable plant sugars, and the carbon originates from the current atmospheric CO2 pool. The cradle-to-gate carbon footprint is 30% to 50% lower than petroleum-based PET.

3) Process-friendly. The resin is thermoplastic and feeds directly into standard polyester staple spinning lines without any organic solvent.

4) Biocompatibility. The polymer family is non-irritating to skin and tissue, and is already used for medical sutures, wound dressings, and tissue scaffolds.