Japanese companies Toray Industries (Tokyo; www.toray.com) and Ajinomoto (Tokyo; www.ajinomoto.com) have signed an agreement to research and manufacture a bio-based nylon based on 1,5-pentanediamine (1,5-PD). The material will be made from the amino acid lysine produced by Ajinomoto from plant materials using fermentation technology. Toray will then polymerise the 1,5-PD with dicarboxylic acid to produce the nylon.

The companies said the bio-based nylon shows promise for developing into comfortable clothing. For example, nylon fibre manufactured using 1,5-PD is pleasing to the touch, yet has the same strength and heat resistance as conventional nylon fibre made from the petrochemical derivative hexamethylenediamine, they said.

The partners have carried out successful test production of 1,5-PD and bio-based nylon, and plan to expand their collaboration with the development of production processes and the evaluation of textile and plastics applications.