High-performance polymers. Shaping the future with Teijin Aramid

Front-running producers of aromatic polyamide fibre in the DPI community

As a producer of high-performance aramid (short for aromatic polyamide) fibres, Teijin Aramid serves many markets and industries. To stay up to speed in a changing world that demands sustainable solutions for the challenges of both today and tomorrow measurable impact, transparency, and collaborative problem solving are at the forefront of their activities. All while manufacturing one of the strongest and most resilient materials out there.

As the world’s number one aramid producer with a market share of almost 50 percent, Teijin Aramid is on a mission to shape a better future for generations to come. The company grows, innovates, and develops on a daily basis. Read on to learn more about how they do this as a valued member of the DPI community.

A broader scope - more opportunities for polymer innovation

One of the main reasons to join the DPI polymer ecosystem? According to Pieter de Lange, principal scientist at Teijin Aramid, it’s about scope, scientific collaboration, and relevant output. “With DPI, we widen our horizon and gain valuable access to insights from an outsider’s perspective. This reifies our own core expertise. DPI fast-tracks research and innovation, so expenditures and other logistic and financial efforts are minimised for a maximal impact.” Teijin Aramid deepens fundamental research and knowledge processes and gets a better and more all-round view of the world of polymers, strengthening their networking efforts.

Pieter de Lange together with colleague Richard Visser

“Naturally, due to the fundamental nature of the research, we find most benefits in the scientific output that re-enters the innovation cycle quickly and consequently speeds it up.” - Pieter de Lange, principal scientist at Teijin Aramid, and programme committee member of the DPI programme Performance Polymers and industrial contact person at DPI.

More sustainable, safer, and stronger

Aramid fibres are composed of rigid polymer chains.  These chains are linked by strong hydrogen bonds, allowing them to transfer mechanical stress relatively easily. This is why the material lends itself perfectly to applications varying from ballistic protective vests to conveyor belts: products and components that require security and durability, relying on impact resistance and the ability to effectively carry an impressive load.

Being part of the growing DPI community with other innovators and researchers within the DPI programme Performance Polymers enables Teijin Aramid to monitor the development and the application of new and advanced analytical techniques. Examples of this are solid-state NMR and Raman spectroscopies to study important topics like the fibre-matrix interface in detail. This in-depth insight makes for a final product that’s safer, more sustainable, and eventually stronger.

“Concretely, we are investigating hands-on solutions for a better future, like researching viable alternatives for reversable fibre-matrix adhesion, to enable recycling options, and more insights into various adhesion mechanisms of dipped fibre cords and rubber.” - Pieter de Lange

In these efforts of creating a better future, a solid methodology to get there is, obviously, key. As a part of the DPI Performance Polymers programme, methodology development gets pushed to the forefront and accelerates accordingly. This includes finding new insights about the failure mechanisms in polymer composites due to mechanical loading during their service life and ways to prevent and predict it, as well as methods to design and re-process sustainable polymer composites. These insights lead to extended durability of the aramid fibre and the products made from it. “This useful knowledge that originally exists outside our core expertise is extremely valuable. Together, we’re stronger than just by ourselves”, mentions Pieter de Lange.

Opening more doors to polymer innovation and science

Thanks to the ongoing collaboration between DPI and ISPT, community members gain the opportunity to participate in value-chain projects that target the industrialisation of technologies (with high(er) TRLs). For example, the ability to join the subsidised InReP project was a big advantage for Teijin Aramid. The project offers an integrated approach towards new ways of sorting and recycling PET and polyolefins, two of the most widely used types of polymers. “DPI enhances our subsidy awareness and provides opportunities for participation in publicly funded projects with partners along the value chain”, concurs Pieter de Lange.

Being a part of the community means developing together

Teijin Aramid is part of a community that allows them to broaden their scope, innovate faster, and reify their ambition “to be the best high performance fiber company for the world”. In short, this allows them to:

1. Deepen their fundamental knowledge.

2. Have a window to the ‘outside’ polymer world.

3. Reinforce their academic and industrial networks.

Ready to accelerate polymer innovation too? Get to know us and our programme areas better here. We are happy to get you up to speed.