Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : The Hidden Cost of Aramid Fiber

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The Hidden Cost of Aramid Fiber:

37 kilograms. That's how much raw material it takes to produce just 1 kg of #aramidfiber, the high-strength material used in protective garments like bulletproof vests, firefighter suits, FR coveralls, and cut-resistant clothing.


#Aramids are modern marvels (five times stronger than steel by weight), but forging these super-fibers is an incredibly resource-intensive and chemical-heavy process. From petroleum-derived precursors to high-temperature synthesis, every step guzzles energy and specialized ingredients. The result? A fiber that’s light as a feather and tough as nails… BUT it has a production footprint that’s anything but light.


Global demand keeps climbing (over 142,000 tonnes of aramid produced annually), which means millions of tonnes of chemicals and feedstocks are consumed each year to feed our need for flame-resistant clothing, aerospace composites, and ballistic armor. It’s a classic case of hidden environmental cost: we get amazing performance materials, but at the expense of significant energy use, carbon emissions, and waste from the manufacturing process.


As a cleantech company, we at General Recycled believe it’s time to pull back the curtain on these impacts. We’re kicking off a series on the global aramid waste problem, starting at the source, how these fibers are made, and what it takes out of our planet.


source : Justin Norton

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