Niaga simplifies entire materials system to make adhesive effective for recycling

August 07, 2019 | Case Study

Contrary to its marketing, the startup Niaga ultimately failed to produce a truly reversible adhesive, though it was trialing a product based on Diels-Alder chemistry with reversible cross-links. Reversible adhesives are sought after for their ability to enable circular and sustainable products, recover valuable materials, ease repair or part replacement, and improve design freedom. Despite the setback, Niaga instead turned to an advanced polymer and a total product redesign to pursue a monomaterial route and enable recovery of materials via selective melting. DSM Niaga thus offered its first and so far only product: a VOC-free recyclable carpet.