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Weyerhaeuser introduces kraft fibre for lyocell

Weyerhaeuser Company has developed a modified kraft pulp fibre to be used to generate lyocell fibres for textiles and non-woven products. The innovation marks the first time the high yield kraft pulping process has been used to produce pulp for use in manufacturing lyocell.

A man-made cellulosic fibre made from wood pulp, lyocell uses a closed loop direct solvent spinning process. "A modified kraft pulp has a higher yield, due to a higher level of hemi-cellulose," said Marian Herz, product line market director for Weyerhaeuser’s pulp business. "The higher yield can lead to lower fibre supply costs for lyocell manufacturers, when compared to the cost of today’s dissolving pulps that are used for lyocell manufacturing."