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2423551

Project Grant

Overview

Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Innovative recyclable nylon textile yarns

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes reducing textile waste entering the landfills, which is nearly 28 billion pounds a year in the US alone.

The project focuses on new and disruptive ways of manufacturing novel nylon fibers for the textile industry in such a way that less pollutive monomaterial clothing can be realized.

The modified nylon fibers will significantly improve the material properties of the fibers, particularly their elasticity and recovery enabling it to replace pollutive elastic polyurethane based fibers such as elastane (LYCRA).

The improvement in these properties makes the use of the modified nylon fibers 100% recyclable while maintaining their comfort and stretch.

The main beneficiaries of the technology are consumer apparel companies that will incorporate the improved fibers into their textile products.

Reuse of the raw material rather than disposing them at landfill means 100% of these materials are regenerated into fresh new products with zero environmental impact with a nylon that has nearly 5x lower carbon footprint.

The company has developed the chemistry concept behind the project to enable creation of nylon yarns and accessories used in apparel creation that mimic the performance of blended fibers (such as nylon/elastane) to enable creation of monomaterial clothing.

The estimated total addressable market size for the modified nylon is $7B.

The company intends to commercialize its products initially for consumer textile manufacturers, including athleisure apparel and fashion brands.

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to create a nylon fiber with built-in stretch/recovery.

This will enable replacement of pollutive spandex (elastane) fibers from performance apparel.

The modification of nylon with proprietary additives with a potential 20% increase in stretch and recovery respect to the unmodified nylon fibers will enable removal of spandex (elastane) from blended yarns.

This monomaterial approach will negate the need for disassembly of blended fibers during recycling with a target of 100% recyclability.

With the current chemistry modifications, the company has already achieved an enhanced nylon fiber that has >20% stretch and ~100% recovery compared to unmodified nylon.

This project aims to understand the stretch/recovery performance of fibers and whole fabrics that use the modified nylon monofiber.

Multiple material characterization techniques will be used during the project to characterize the materials, including X-ray diffraction and scanning calorimetry to assess crystallinity; thermogravimetric analysis for degradation and other techniques to measure tensile properties.

The company will develop a set of fibers and yarns with varying degrees of modification of the nylon.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Subawards are not planned for this award.
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
New York, New York 10036-5321 United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Return To Vendor, Co was awarded Project Grant 2423551 worth $275,000 from National Science Foundation in August 2024 with work to be completed primarily in New York New York United States. The grant has a duration of 1 year and was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships. The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.

SBIR Details

Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Innovative recyclable nylon textile yarns
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes reducing textile waste entering the landfills, which is nearly 28 billions pounds a year in the US alone. The project focuses on new and disruptive ways of manufacturing novel nylon fibers for the textile industry in such a way that less pollutive monomaterial clothing can be realized. The modified nylon fibers will significantly improve the material properties of the fibers, particularly their elasticity and recovery enabling it to replace pollutive elastic polyurethane based fibers such as elastane (lycra). The improvement in these properties makes the use of the modified nylon fibers 100% recyclable while maintaining their comfort and stretch. The main beneficiaries of the technology are consumer apparel companies that will incorporate the improved fibers into their textile products. Reuse of the raw material rather than disposing them at landfill means 100% of these materials are regenerated into fresh new products with zero environmental impact with a nylon that has nearly 5x lower carbon footprint. The company has developed the chemistry concept behind the project to enable creation of nylon yarns and accessories used in apparel creation that mimic the performance of blended fibers (such as nylon/elastane) to enable creation of monomaterial clothing. The estimated total addressable market size for the modified nylon is $7B. The company intends to commercialize its products initially for consumer textile manufacturers, including athleisure apparel and fashion brands. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to create a nylon fiber with built-in stretch/recovery. This will enable replacement of pollutive spandex (elastane) fibers from performance apparel. The modification of nylon with proprietary additives with a potential 20% increase in stretch and recovery respect to the unmodified Nylon fibers will enable removal of spandex (elastane) from blended yarns. This monomaterial approach will negate the need for disassembly of blended fibers during recycling with a target of 100% recyclability. With the current chemistry modifications, the company has already achieved an enhanced nylon fiber that has >20% stretch and ~100% recovery compared to unmodified Nylon. This project aims to understand the stretch/recovery performance of fibers and whole fabrics that use the modified Nylon monofiber. Multiple material characterization techniques will be used during the project to characterize the materials, including X-ray diffraction and scanning calorimetry to assess crystallinity; thermogravimetric analysis for degradation and other techniques to measure tensile properties. The company will develop a set of fibers and yarns with varying degrees of modification of the nylon. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
AM
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515

Status
(Ongoing)

Last Modified 8/27/24

Period of Performance
8/15/24
Start Date
7/31/25
End Date
77.0% Complete

Funding Split
$275.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$275.0K
Total Obligated
100.0% Federal Funding
0.0% Non-Federal Funding

Activity Timeline

Interactive chart of timeline of amendments to 2423551

Additional Detail

Award ID FAIN
2423551
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
JWW7JDRJMLW9
Awardee CAGE
9SK37
Performance District
NY-12
Senators
Kirsten Gillibrand
Charles Schumer
Modified: 8/27/24