Asahi Kasei and Aquafil develop compound for 3D printing

Asahi Kasei and Aquafil have announced a collaboration to develop a new material for 3D printing. The compound combines recycled polyamide 6 (PA6) with cellulose nanofibres (CNF) and is intended for applications in the automotive and aerospace industries. The material consists of Aquafil’s ECONYL, a chemically recycled PA6, and Asahi Kasei’s CNF. ECONYL is made from post-consumer and pre-consumer waste such as fishing nets and carpets. The process involves depolymerisation to monomers and subsequent repolymerisation.

Asahi Kasei’s CNF is produced from cotton linters. According to the manufacturer, it has a high heat resistance and network formation capability. Compared to glass fibres, CNF is said to have better recycling properties. The CNF/ECONYL compound is said to have good mouldability and strength for 3D printing applications. Asahi Kasei sees potential uses in the automotive and aerospace industries, without naming specific applications.

Asahi Kasei plans to start test sales of filaments made from the new composite material in the EU, the USA and Japan in the third quarter of 2025. The material is to be presented at various trade fairs, including Fakuma in Germany, Sustainable Material Expo in Japan and Formnext in Germany.

The development is based on a memorandum of understanding between Asahi Kasei and Aquafil. ITOCHU Corporation, a shareholder of Aquafil, is supporting the project.