Cathay Biotech produces bio-based polyamides using its proprietary bio-based PDA. The main raw materials for these products are renewable plant materials. Compared with the traditional petroleum-based polyamides invented in the 1920s, Cathay's bio-based polyamides are new bio-based materials which are environmentally friendly, have excellent performance, are more sustainable, and can be widely used in textiles and engineering materials. In 2014, Cathay realized a breakthrough in the industrialization technology of polyamides and completed the pilot plant test. A large-scale production line with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons will be operational in 2021.
Unlike the even-carbon structure of traditional petroleum-based products, Cathay's bio-based polyamides have an odd-numbered-carbon molecular structure which can yield excellent characteristics such as flame retardancy, moisture absorption, easy dyeing, low warpage, and high flowability etc.
Relying on its bio-based polyamide products, Cathay has launched TERRYL® for the textile industry, which is used in clothing, bags, carpets, work suits, tents and other textile downstream fields. TERRYL® was selected as the "New High Impact Fiber” on the textile market at the 2017 China International Textile & Yarn (Spring/Summer) Exhibition, and as the "China Fiber Fashion Leader" for two consecutive years. For the engineering materials industry, Cathay launched ECOPENT® for applications in automotives, electronics and electricals, cable ties, film and other engineering materials downstream fields. Both TERRYL® and ECOPENT® can replace nylon 66 or other nylon products made from hexylenediamine for various different applications.
Featured Recommendations:
| Product Number | Melting Point | Characteristics | Alternative Application Scenarios |
|
E-1273 |
253°C~256°C |
Steady color, high strength, high elongation, excellent flame resistance, good processibility |
Cable ties, industrial yarns, insulation strips, automotive interior and exterior decoration and related structural components etc. |
|
E-2260 |
267°C~273°C |
Better flame resistance, better temperature resistance than nylon 66 |
Electronics and electrical connectors, peripheral parts of automotive engines and other related applications |
|
E-6300 |
297°C~301°C |
Heat-resistant material with higher flame resistance, good creep resistance, stable size, higher chemical resistance |
Lightweight and electrification of automobiles (battery backup unit of new energy automobiles), lightweight components for wind electricity generation, cost efficiency |
Cathay's bio-based polyamide is made from renewable plant raw materials. The bio-based content has been analytically verified by third-party laboratories using ASTM 6866 methodology to have renewable carbon content as high as 45%-100%. This effectively reduces the use of products made from fossil raw materials such as petroleum, and thus reduces carbon emissions.
Carbon footprint assessment results:
| Parameter | Unit | Applied Datasets（Ecoinvent 3.6） | Products | |
| Nylon 6 | Nylon 6-6 | Polyamide 56 | ||
| Global warming potential-Fossil (GWP-fossil) | kg CO2 eq. | 9.90E+00 | 8.66E+00 | 7.28E+00 |
| Global warming potential-Biogenic (GWP-biogenic) | kg CO2 eq. | 1.20E-02 | 3.11E-02 | -2.90E+00 |
| Global warming potential-Land use and Land transformation (GWP-luluc) | kg CO2 eq. | 1.95E-05 | 1.73E-05 | 1.20E-03 |
| Global warming potential(GWP)-Total | kg CO2 eq. | 9.91E+00 | 8.69E+00 | 4.38E+00 |
Note: Impact results are calculated based on 1 kg of product's production.
