With the deepening of the concept of green consumption, the market demand for recycled polyester (rPET) has upgraded from "basic environmental protection" to "functional and high-quality". Simple conventional recycled polyester products have limited profit margins, and giving products special functions through modification technology has become the core path for chemical fiber companies to expand high value-added markets. This article focuses on the key directions of recycled polyester modification technology, breaks down the key points of R&D and application scenarios, and provides a reference for enterprise upgrades.
Antibacterial modification is one of the mainstream directions for high-end recycled polyester. The current mature modification processes are mainly divided into two types: one is blending modification, which blends nano-silver, zinc oxide and other antibacterial agents with regenerated PET slices and then spins them. The antibacterial ingredients are evenly distributed inside the fiber and has a long-lasting antibacterial effect. The antibacterial rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus has been tested to reach more than 99%; the other is post-finishing modification, which uses special additives to surface treat the fiber after spinning to quickly achieve antibacterial functions and is suitable for flexible production of small batches and multiple categories. Antibacterial recycled polyester is widely used in underwear, maternal and infant textiles, medical protective clothing and other fields, with a market premium of up to 30%-50%.
Flame retardant modification accurately matches the needs of industrial and public scenes. In view of the flammable characteristics of recycled polyester, companies can use reactive flame retardants to participate in the polymerization process to tightly combine the flame retardant components with the PET molecular chains, avoiding the problems of easy migration of conventional additive flame retardants and attenuation of flame retardant effects. The flame-retardant-modified recycled polyester has a limiting oxygen index that can be increased to above 28 and complies with the GB/T 2408-2021 flame-retardant standard. It can be used to produce automotive interior fabrics, high-speed rail seat fabrics, decorative fabrics for public places, etc. This type of product has become a core choice for industrial procurement because it meets safety and compliance requirements.
Moisture-absorbing and moisture-conducting modification breaks the inherent pain point of "stuffy and airtight" recycled polyester. The fiber cross-sectional shape (such as cross-shaped, Y-shaped) is changed through special-shaped spinning technology to increase the specific surface area of the fiber and enhance the capillary effect; at the same time, it is combined with a hydrophilic finishing agent to enhance the fiber's ability to absorb and conduct moisture. The modified recycled polyester fabric can increase the moisture absorption rate by more than 40%, and its dryness is close to that of natural fibers. It is widely used in high-end categories such as sportswear and outdoor clothing, effectively filling the market gap in functional environmentally friendly fabrics.
For recycled polyester manufacturers, the research and development and implementation of modification technology need to be accurately planned based on their own production capacity and market demand. It is recommended to give priority to antibacterial and flame retardant categories with strong market demand, gradually accumulate technical experience and then expand into multiple modification directions. If you have any questions about modification technology selection, process optimization, market positioning, etc., please leave a message in the comment area for communication.
With the deepening of the concept of green consumption, the market demand for recycled polyester (rPET) has upgraded from "basic environmental protection" to "functional and high-quality". Simple conventional recycled polyester products have limited profit margins, and giving products special functions through modification technology has become the core path for chemical fiber companies to expand high value-added markets. This article focuses on the key directions of recycled polyester modification technology, breaks down the key points of R&D and application scenarios, and provides a reference for enterprise upgrades.
Antibacterial modification is one of the mainstream directions for high-end recycled polyester. The current mature modification processes are mainly divided into two types: one is blending modification, which blends nano-silver, zinc oxide and other antibacterial agents with regenerated PET slices and then spins them. The antibacterial ingredients are evenly distributed inside the fiber and has a long-lasting antibacterial effect. The antibacterial rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus has been tested to reach more than 99%; the other is post-finishing modification, which uses special additives to surface treat the fiber after spinning to quickly achieve antibacterial functions and is suitable for flexible production of small batches and multiple categories. Antibacterial recycled polyester is widely used in underwear, maternal and infant textiles, medical protective clothing and other fields, with a market premium of up to 30%-50%.
Flame retardant modification accurately matches the needs of industrial and public scenes. In view of the flammable characteristics of recycled polyester, companies can use reactive flame retardants to participate in the polymerization process to tightly combine the flame retardant components with the PET molecular chains, avoiding the problems of easy migration of conventional additive flame retardants and attenuation of flame retardant effects. The flame-retardant-modified recycled polyester has a limiting oxygen index that can be increased to above 28 and complies with the GB/T 2408-2021 flame-retardant standard. It can be used to produce automotive interior fabrics, high-speed rail seat fabrics, decorative fabrics for public places, etc. This type of product has become a core choice for industrial procurement because it meets safety and compliance requirements.
Moisture-absorbing and moisture-conducting modification breaks the inherent pain point of "stuffy and airtight" recycled polyester. The fiber cross-sectional shape (such as cross-shaped, Y-shaped) is changed through special-shaped spinning technology to increase the specific surface area of the fiber and enhance the capillary effect; at the same time, it is combined with a hydrophilic finishing agent to enhance the fiber's ability to absorb and conduct moisture. The modified recycled polyester fabric can increase the moisture absorption rate by more than 40%, and its dryness is close to that of natural fibers. It is widely used in high-end categories such as sportswear and outdoor clothing, effectively filling the market gap in functional environmentally friendly fabrics.
For recycled polyester manufacturers, the research and development and implementation of modification technology need to be accurately planned based on their own production capacity and market demand. It is recommended to give priority to antibacterial and flame retardant categories with strong market demand, gradually accumulate technical experience and then expand into multiple modification directions. If you have any questions about modification technology selection, process optimization, market positioning, etc., please leave a message in the comment area for communication.
