Regenerated cellulose fibers from pulp were the first man-made fibers and already produced at the end of the 19th century. With the rise of synthetic fibers in the middle of the 20th century they lost importance and market share. Nowadays, going in hand with the global megatrends, there is a renaissance in regenerated cellulose fibers, both in the academic and the industrial field. This growth is supported by the beneficial attributes of cellulose as a raw material, resulting in unique fiber properties, and a growing demand for sustainable products. For the fiber producing industry, a transfer from laboratory and small scale to industrial scale, fulfilling economic and ecologic criteria, is essential. In a holistic view, the raw material and the production process finally define the basis for a truly sustainable product. Lenzing AG, as the world leading manufacturer of wood-based cellulosic fibers, follows the strategy to continuously improve its production processes and products regarding quality, functionality and environmental impact. In addition, also new processes and products are investigated and developed. This paper presents the most recent innovations by Lenzing AG, namely RefibraTM, a fiber produced from recycled cotton and wood, and TencelTM LUXE, a lyocell filament, opening new perspectives with respect to quality, performance and sustainability.

Wood-based cellulosic fibers: Current challenges and further developments from an industrial perspective

255th National Meeting (2018)

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