MIT develops recyclable polyethylene elastic yarn

MIT engineers have developed a new recyclable elastic yarn made entirely from polyethylene, a common thermoplastic used in milk bottles and grocery bags. The yarn mimics the strength and stretch of spandex but can be melted and respun multiple times without losing performance. In tests, the yarn remained as strong and flexible after 10 recycling cycles as conventional thread. The team, led by Svetlana Boriskina, published the details in ACS Materials Letters. The yarn is designed as an alternative to spandex-polyester and spandex-nylon blends, which are difficult to recycle due to their mixed materials. The researchers envision a circular textile economy where garments made from this yarn can be recycled into new yarn or plastic products, reducing textile waste. The work was supported by the U.S. Army Research Office, the United States — Office of Naval Research Global, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, and the MIT Portugal Program.