Synthetic & regenerated fibres

Semi-synthetic fibre from acetylated cellulose with silky hand — classic lining and fashion fabrics of the 1920s.

Soft, wool-like chemical fibre made from polyacrylonitrile, warm and dimensionally stable, often used as a wool substitute.

Polyamide 6.6 fibre by Brazilian producer Rhodia Solvay that biodegrades on landfills within a few years.

Mineral continuous fibre spun from molten basalt, non-flammable, with tensile strength between glass and carbon fibre.

Synthetic fibres whose monomers are partly or fully derived from renewable feedstocks such as sugarcane, castor oil or corn.

High-performance fabric of pure carbon fibre — extremely strong, light, electrically conductive and heat-resistant.

Chemically processed pulp made from 100 % post-consumer cotton textiles, used as feedstock for viscose, lyocell and modal.

Robust branded polyamide fabric for backpacks, workwear and motorcycle apparel, extremely abrasion and tear resistant.

Blended fabric of cotton and chemical fibres (mostly polyester), combining natural hand with easy care.

Cellulose regenerated fibre made by the cuprammonium process, silky and fluid, the classic lining for premium jackets.

Very stiff fibre made from carbonised polyacrylonitrile (PAN), base of CFRP composites in sports, aerospace and motorsport.

Partly bio-based polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) fibre with inherent stretch and softness.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre, weight for weight 15 times stronger than steel, for ballistics, climbing and sailing.

Regenerated nylon 6 by Italian Aquafil from old fishing nets, carpets and textile waste — chemical recycling.

Highly elastic polyurethane-based chemical fibre, stretchable up to 700 % and a standard blend in stretch fabrics.

Chlorine and chemical resistant elastomer fibre based on polyolefins, a robust alternative to elastane.

Elastic thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, often foamed for soles, padding and coatings.

Multi-stage twisted yarn in which already-plied yarns are re-twisted against their original direction — highly round, dimensionally stable and strong.

Inorganic chemical fibre made from special glass, used as a heat-resistant and high-strength reinforcement in technical textiles.

Brand-neutral collective term for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres (UHMWPE) with extreme tensile and cut resistance; best-known trade names are Dyneema and Spectra.

Waterproof and breathable polyester coating system developed and trademarked by UK brand Regatta.

Polyester staple fibre with a hollow core - traps air, extremely light and insulates like synthetic down.

Bio-based polylactic-acid fibre grade from NatureWorks for staple fibres in apparel and home textiles.

High-strength para-aramid fibre from DuPont™ with exceptional tensile strength and heat resistance for protective apparel.

Lenzing™ viscose fibre from certified wood with significantly reduced emissions and EU Ecolabel.

Best-known branded elastane fibre from The Lycra Company (formerly DuPont/Invista), synonymous with high-stretch fabrics.

Regenerated cellulose fibre from eucalyptus wood in a closed solvent loop — best-known brand Tencel®.

Standard lyocell titre 1.3 dtex / 38 mm — the classic short-staple grade for ring spinning on cotton systems.

Regenerated cellulose fibre from wood pulp, produced in a closed-loop NMMO solvent process with > 99 % recovery.

Aromatic polyamide with meta linkage — inherently flame retardant, base class for firefighter and racing suits.

Ultra-fine chemical fibre below 1 dtex, often from polyester or polyamide, used for soft technical fabrics.

Extra-fine Modal variant by Lenzing made from beech pulp — titre below 1 dtex, silky hand for underwear and loungewear.

Very fine modal fibre (<1 dtex) from Lenzing™ with exceptionally soft, silky hand — reference for premium lingerie.

Polyester in microfibre fineness — combining the robustness of PES with a soft hand and high functionality.

Tiny plastic fibres (< 5 mm) released from synthetic textiles during washing and wear that enter waterways.

Regenerated cellulose fibre from beech wood with high wet strength, softer than classic viscose.

Synthetic chloroprene rubber foam with high thermal insulation, waterproofness and elasticity.

Recycled polyester yarn from Italian PET bottles — mechanical recyclate with fully traceable origin.

Meta-aramid fibre from DuPont™ with high flame resistance for firefighting, motorsport and military apparel.

Original DuPont trade name for polyamide 6.6, today a synonym for many polyamide fibres.

Long-chain polyamide with very low moisture uptake — the standard for flexible hoses, sporting goods and 3D printing.

Partly bio-based polyamide from castor oil with lower moisture uptake than PA 6/6.6 — for toothbrushes, fishing lines, technical bristles.

Air-jet textured nylon yarn with a soft, cotton-like hand and good wind and water repellency.

High-performance fibre class of aromatic polyamide with para linkage — basis of Kevlar®, Twaron® and Technora®.

Ultra heat-resistant high-performance fibre for firefighter and space suits — does not melt, does not ignite, LOI 41.

High-performance synthetic fibre that will not melt below 500 °C — the core of every professional firefighter turnout shell.

Polyester fibre with natural stretch and chlorine resistance — the standard for chlorinated-water swimwear.

Chlorine-free, low-plasticiser plastic film used as a PVC substitute for rain jackets, shower curtains and bags.

Fully marine-biodegradable fibre produced by microbial fermentation — the more honest bioplastic beyond PLA.

Bio-based polyester fibre from fermented lactic acid (corn/sugar cane) — industrially compostable.

Common umbrella term for polyacrylonitrile-based fibres, technically largely synonymous with acrylic.

Synthetic fibre with very high tensile and abrasion resistance, often used synonymously with nylon in Europe.

High-strength, transparent thermoplastic — used for safety helmets, visors, protective eyewear and textile accessories.

Fully synthetic chemical fibre from petroleum with high dimensional stability and low moisture absorption.

Thermoplastic polyolefin fibre (HDPE), lightweight and chemically resistant, mostly used as nets, ropes and technical fabrics.

Antimicrobial finish using recycled silver chloride to permanently prevent odour-causing bacteria on textiles.

Evonik's high-temperature polyimide fibre with a multi-lobed cross-section — the standard for hot-gas filtration in cement plants and power stations.

Early high-wet-modulus viscose from the 1950s — precursor of today's modal fibre, with high wet strength and mercerisable hand.

High-performance man-made fibre with exceptional chemical and heat resistance up to about 190 °C continuous use.

Light, hydrophobic polyolefin fibre with high moisture repellency — basis for base-layer underwear and non-woven bags.

Versatile polymer group used for coatings, membranes, foams and elastane fibres.

Polyester generation with permanent recovery — recognised as its own fibre class 'Triexta' in 2009.

Textile or fibre backing with a polyurethane coating, leather-like look without animal raw materials.

Versatile, robust plastic with high chemical resistance, often used as a coating for tarpaulins and high-visibility vests.

Historical US umbrella term for regenerated cellulose fibres, in Europe largely synonymous with viscose.

Chemically regenerated polyamide 6 by Aquafil made from fishing nets, carpet scraps and industrial waste — up to around 90 % less CO2 emissions than virgin nylon.

Polyester fibre from recycled PET (bottles or textile waste) — functionally identical, ecologically more favourable than virgin material.

Lenzing™ lyocell fibre containing a share of post-consumer cotton recyclate — closed-loop cellulose cycle.

Recycled polyester and nylon yarns from US company UNIFI, with FiberPrint® traceability — used by Nike, Adidas, Volcom.

Lyocell fibre by smartfiber AG with embedded brown algae — skin-friendly, EU Ecolabel, biodegradable.

Older Japanese PTT (poly-trimethylene terephthalate) fibre by Asahi Kasei and Teijin, forerunner of today's triexta ranges.

Bicomponent stretch multifilament made from PTT (Sorona) and PET that delivers durable stretch without elastane.

UHMWPE fibre from Honeywell, technically related to Dyneema®, used for ballistic and cut-resistant applications.

CarbonNeutral-certified variant of Lenzing's TENCEL Lyocell fibre — emissions along the fibre life cycle are reduced and remaining emissions offset via climate protection projects.

Lyocell fibre containing up to 30% pulp from recycled cotton scraps (pre- and post-consumer).

Lenzing lyocell fibre containing a defined share of recycled cotton waste from garment cutting scraps.

Brand name of Lenzing AG for lyocell and modal fibres from certified wood, produced in a closed loop.

Material property of plastics that can be repeatedly melted and formed under heat — basis of many fibre and film systems.

Highly acetylated cellulose fibre with high iron and wash stability — legendary tracksuit fabric of the 1980s.

Para-aramid fibre from Teijin Aramid, chemically comparable to Kevlar®, used for ballistic, cut and heat protection.

Aromatic polyester fibre spun from liquid crystal polymer (LCP) by Kuraray, extremely strong with very low creep.

Silk-like fibres from plant residues such as citrus peel (Orange Fiber), banana stems or lotus stalks — cruelty-free and often from by-product streams.

First regenerated cellulose fibre, made from wood — soft, lustrous and absorbent like silk or cotton.

Regenerated cellulose blend of viscose (CV) and modal (CMD) — combines the drape of viscose with the wet strength of modal.

PBO high-performance fibre from Toyobo, about 1.6 times stronger than Kevlar®, used in Formula 1, aerospace and technical composites.