Lyocell/TENCEL in detail
Also known as: TENCEL Lyocell, Lyocell fibre, Regenerated cellulose
Regenerated cellulose fibre from wood pulp, produced in a closed-loop NMMO solvent process with > 99 % recovery.
Description
Lyocell — marketed as TENCEL™ by Lenzing — is produced from certified eucalyptus, beech or spruce wood. Cellulose is dissolved directly in an aqueous solution of the organic solvent N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) and extruded through spinnerets into filaments. Over 99 % of the solvent is recovered and reused, making the process significantly cleaner than the classic viscose route using carbon disulphide.
The fibre is smoother than cotton, highly absorbent (around 50 % better than cotton), has a silky-cool hand and is biodegradable. It is used pure or blended with cotton, wool, modal and elastane in T-shirts, blouses, shirts, bed linen and denim.
- Raw material: FSC-/PEFC-certified softwood and hardwood
- Solvent loop: > 99 % NMMO recovery
- Certifications: EU Ecolabel, USDA BioPreferred
- Titer: typically 1.3-1.7 dtex for fine yarns
Properties
| Fibre type | Regenerated cellulose fibre (direct solvent) |
|---|---|
| Solvent recovery | > 99 % (NMMO, closed loop) |
| Moisture uptake | Approx. 11-13 % (standard), roughly 50 % better than cotton |
| Application | T-shirts, blouses, bed linen, denim blends |
Related product categories
Sources & references
3- Lenzing TENCEL tencel.com https://www.tencel.com/
- Wikipedia: Lyocell Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyocell
- EU Ecolabel Textilien environment.ec.europa.eu https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/eu-ecolabel_en
