POTENTIAL OF THE NMMO-PROCESS FOR THE PRO DUCTION OF FIBERS AND MEMBRANES

NMMO is the most interesting solvent for cellulose with respect to eco logy and flexibility. With the NMMO-process it is possible to produce a lot of different products for various uses. Staple fibres are commer cially produced by Courtaults under the brand name Tencel((R)) and by Lenzing under the name Lenzing Lyocell((R)). Akzo Nobel developed the production of a multifilament yarn. The increasing number of patent ap plications and publications during the last years shows the enormous i mportance of this technology. The advantages of the technology will br iefly demonstrated. An overview of the influence of different process parameters on the yam properties for both a textile and industrial app lication will be given. Membranes for dialysis are produced mainly fro m cellulose and cellulose derivates with the cuoxam process. This proc ess is labour-intensive and needs a lot of effort not to harm the envi ronment. The NMMO technology is the best alternative with respect to e conomy and ecology. Membranes for dialysis, produced with the NMMO tec hnology, have a lot of advantages compared with established membranes. The dialysis performance is more flexible and the membranes have an e xcellent hemocompatibility. The advantages of cellulose are soluble in NMMO and shapeable to membranes. Furthermore the production of compos ite-membranes from cellulose, cellulose derivates and synthetic polyme rs is possible.