TechnologyResearch and Development

We aim to create the new technologies our future society needs byfusing our core technologies developed over many years with leading-edge technologies.
Research and development is the foundation of manufacturing.By
integrating promising new and peripheral technologies with our corepolymer, inorganic materials, fiber and textile technologies, we havedeveloped a number of high-performance, high value-added products
w it h t he h ighest globa l ma rket sha re, ma ny of wh ic h a re world
f i r st s. Thinking outside the box, we create new technologies with clear
foresight of the changes in the world that lie ahead. In parallel withcross-business projects and long-term research and development, we aredeveloping the products the world needs now and in the future.

Unitika Research & Development Center
Located in Kyoto Prefecture’s Uji City, the Unitika Research & Development Center is the Unitika
Group’s vital technological development hub. In addition to basic research, the Center focuses on
research and technological development that responds directly to market needs through collaboration with our business divisions. Using a range of analysis and testing technologies, the Center helps
move our research and development forward. Coexisting with the local community and theenvironment is another important focus, and the Center became ISO 14001 certified in 2001.

Strengthens and expands
the core technologies behind
new products and businesses

Works on cross-sectoral
corporate projects

A key R&D hub
Creates new businesses
with growth potential

Trains people to build
their R&D capability

F IL M

FILM
This silicone-free release film eliminates
the potential of silicone contamination
This food packaging film was createdduring the production process.
using Unitika’s original chemical andIt’s not only environmentally friendly
material recycling technologies.
but features excellent coating performance.

ceExc

Environmentalperformances

Unitika

PolyResearch &Safety andRecycling
Development
comfortBiomass
Center’s
Food preservation
Naturalmaterials
visionWater resources

Po

Resources/energy

ersy

Energy/resource conservation
Alternative energy

ntmly mI ND USTRIAL FIBERSan

State-of-the-art technologies
Device mobility

Consumerproducts

In addition to specially designing the polyamide
structure and composition, we used our proprietarycompounding technology to create a nylon resin withhigh thermal conductivity in response to the growing
need for high thermal-conductive resins.

rmria lThermal-conductive resin

iesa te“XecoT”is an aromatic polyamide resinwith exceptionally high performance.
It’s an environmentally friendly
engineering plastic Unitika developed using its
original polymerization and compounding technology.

sPer foc o r e te c h n o l oti n ggm

XecoT

isco r e bu s i ne s s e

Telecommunication/
electronics

mero

ssi nge

rp

New

ials

R E SIN

Environmentally friendly
food packaging films

er“Uniamide”is a biaxially oriented filmmade from thermoplastic aromaticpolyamides, which traditionally have beendifficult toconvert into films.

Silicone-free release film

atUniamide

Eh e x i s ti n g
ies
anc o r e te c h n ol o g o r gsisInic

Ba sic r es earc hPolyamide hollow fiber membraneThis solvent-resistant hollow fiber membrane
was developed by employing a new thermallyinduced phase separation method.
Helps save energy by replacing distillation withmembrane separation.

“Melset”is high performance polyester fiberthat can be molded into various shapes.
It combines a high-viscosity resin anda low-melting point resin using Unitika’s
expertise in sheath-core fibers.

NO NWOVEN

G L A S S F I BE R S

ELEVES

Glass-fiber reinforced resin sheet“Eleves”is an olefin spunbond nonwoven fabricwith excellent heat seal performance
made using sheath-core fiber technology.

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MELSET

INDUSTRIALFIBERS
ACTIVATEDCARBON FIBERS

Glass-fiber reinforced resin sheet is a composite sheet
made of an ultra-thin glass fabric and special resin.
Fire blocking, transparent, lightweight, and certified as a fire retardant material for use
in buildings by the Japanese government, it can be used as an alternative toglass plates for smoke-proof vertical walls.

Sustainability
Sustainable Material Development

Committed to making environmentally friendly products,
Unitika has developed original technology that enables upcycling.
As a manufacturer of performance materials, Unitika is dedicated to realizing a sustainable society.
Unitika established the Sustainability Promotion Office to oversee the planning, development, andsales promotion of environmentally friendly products as it moves forward in earnest with efforts torealize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to promoting biomass materials andcarbon-free products, we as a manufacturer of performance materials are focusing on the recycling andreducing part of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). We have established our own material and chemical
recycling technologies and operate a recycling-oriented production system that enables upcycling,waste reduction, and resource saving. We develop food packaging films that make effective use ofrecycled resources and more as part of our comprehensive efforts to realize a sustainable society.

TERRAMAC®
Unique Unitika
technologies

Polyacticacid

RESIN

TE R R A M A C
Biomass resource(plant starch)“Terramac” is a biomass material using polylactic acid (PLA),
which is made from plant-derived sugars.
It ultimately decomposes to water and carbon dioxide in the natural environment.
Since it was first released in 1998 as an eco-friendly non-fossil fuel-based plastic,
it has been used in various products, including resins,
spunbond fabrics, fibers, and other daily products.

XecoT
Made from castor oil extracted from castor beans,“XecoT” is a highly heat-resistant polyamide resin with the world’s highest performance.
Its excellent physical properties, surpassing those of conventional nylon resins,
have changed the way we think about biomass materials,
which had posed issues with functionality.

FIBERS&TEXTILESTERR AMAC

Plant-derived ﬁber with less environmental impact“Castlon” is a 100% biomass-based nylon 11 material made fromcastor oil extracted from the seeds of non-edible castor beans.
We work with a French supplier in a comprehensive effort to use recycled material.

For life on Earth tomorrow.

Unitika’s eco-friendly products

CHEMICAL RECYCLING
Unitika’s original chemical recycling technology features an excellent impurity removal rate.
It enables us to collect used PET bottle and waste materials from fiber factories,
chemically decompose them down to the raw material level, and repolymerize them.
The technology is used for making food packaging films and more.

GL ASS FIBERS
GL ASS BEADS

NON
WOVEN

ECO FRIENDLY
Our group company, Unitika Trading, employs both material andchemical recycling technologies to make high quality products composed ofa high percentage of recycled materials
for a full line of environmentally friendly materials
certified under its own Eco-Friendly certification system.

We t c u ri n g s h e e t f o r c o n c re te
Wet curing sheet for concrete is a wet curing sheet for concretethat prolongs the life of concrete structures.
Made from natural cotton, it can be used repeatedly,
reducing the environmental impact caused by disposal of used sheets.

C O MPA N Y -W I D E A C TI V I TI E S
Unitika is making a company-wide effort to shrink its environmental footprint,
by reducing CO 2 emissions, energy consumption, and waste in its offices.

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