What is PHBH fiber?  

Kaneka has been developing a new biodegradable fiber product made of PHBH (a copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate), which is also a biopolymer comprised primarily of plant oil. PHBH’s outstanding feature is its biodegradability in aerobic environments (such as shallow soil) and anaerobic environments (such as deep soil and in water like marines/lakes); however, PHBH fiber still keeps its original properties under normal conditions (“normal” is defined as the product use function prior to the need for biodegradation).

What are some example solutions?   

PHBH fiber is a “base material” which can serve as the foundation for almost any textile application you can imagine (webs, meshes, felts, ropes, short cut fiber flocks, woven fabrics, scrims for fiber reinforced plastics, etc.)  

Consider these example uses for PHBH fiber:

• -Pesticide Delivery Media for Agriculture
• -Coral Reef Conservation Netting
• -Trash Bags for Composting

The key features that these example applications have in common are twofold: 1) Biodegradability is the PHBH fiber product’s primary function. 2) Due to its biodegradable nature, products made from PHBH fiber should not be considered as a resource for recyclable applications.     

Here's Your Goal:  

Kaneka possesses the resources of a traditional textile fibers production facility, and thus we have a good understanding of what PHBH is and its general capabilities.  What we are seeking are creative applications for PHBH fiber that will take advantage of its superior biodegradable performance!