From MIT Technology Review · · 1m
MIT engineers spin recyclable yarn from plastic
A new thermoplastic yarn made from polyethylene can be melted and respun repeatedly without losing strength, offering a path to circular textile recycling.
In brief
A new thermoplastic yarn made from polyethylene can be melted and respun repeatedly without losing strength, offering a path to circular textile recycling. MIT engineers created a recyclable yarn from polyethylene that can be melted and respun ten times without degrading, potentially reducing the eighty one pounds of…
Americans discard 81 pounds of clothing yearly
The average American throws out around eighty one pounds of clothing each year, with few recycling options available. MIT engineers are developing a new yarn to reduce textile waste.
New yarn made from two types of polyethylene
MIT researchers created a thermoplastic yarn from two variations of polyethylene, the material used in milk jugs and grocery bags.
Yarn stays strong after ten recycling cycles
Svetlana Boriskina, who led the work as a research scientist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, says garments made from this material can be melted and respun into new yarn.
“Even after 10 cycles of melting and respinning, the yarn stays as strong and flexible as conventional thread.”
What to remember
MIT engineers created a recyclable yarn from polyethylene that can be melted and respun ten times without degrading, potentially reducing the eighty one pounds of clothing Americans discard annually.
