INVISTA develops chemical recycling technologies for nylon 6,6

As demand for sustainable materials grows worldwide, INVISTA is working on new ways to recycle nylon 6,6 after use. The company, known for its production of chemical intermediates, polymers, and fibers, is focusing on chemical depolymerization to tackle one of the toughest challenges in synthetic textile waste.

The challenge of nylon 6,6

Nylon 6,6 is valued for its strength and durability. It is widely used in automotive components, medical devices, apparel, and packaging. But its complex molecular structure has made it very difficult to recycle once products reach the end of their life. This has limited opportunities for large-scale recovery and reuse.

INVISTA’s dual-tech approach

To address these barriers, INVISTA is developing two patent-pending processes:

• Advantaged Separation Technology – designed to separate nylon 6,6 from mixed waste streams, creating cleaner feedstock for chemical recycling.
• Enhanced Ammonolysis Process – a depolymerization method that breaks nylon 6,6 and nylon 6 back into their original monomers, making it possible to produce materials equal in quality to virgin nylon.

Early lab results show that these methods could allow new nylon 6,6 products to contain up to 100% post-consumer recycled content without loss of performance.

The program is led by Dr. William J. Tenn III, Senior Research Associate at INVISTA, who is based at the company’s Texas Technology Center. Dr. Tenn has co-developed several commercialized process technologies for nylon intermediates and brings extensive experience in chemical process engineering with a strong focus on sustainable solutions.

What this could mean for industry

If these technologies prove effective at scale, they could change how nylon 6,6 is produced and reused. Potential impacts include:

• Less dependence on virgin petrochemical feedstocks
• Lower environmental impact across supply chains
• Greater opportunities for closed-loop systems in textiles, automotive, and packaging

Upcoming webinar

INVISTA will host a 45-minute webinar on September 24, 2025. The session will share technical details, progress updates, and collaboration opportunities. Participants will learn about the challenges of recycling nylon 6,6 and how chemical depolymerization could create new circular solutions.