ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, July 30 /EMWNews/ -- A new metallocene based

polypropylene (PP) fiber produced under the trademark Dryarn from Italian

synthetic fiber manufacturer Aquafil has been selected by Italian

sportswear manufacturer SLAM to create a jersey for the national sailing

team that will compete in Beijing 2008.



    SLAM chose the PP fiber, based on a Metocene PP resin produced by

LyondellBasell Industries, due to the unprecedented levels of comfort and

performance it achieves in skin-contact textile applications. "We believe

this is the first time that a PP resin has been used to produce nautical

sportswear, which has historically been the domain of polyester and

polyamide synthetic fibers," said Bernd Schuetz, Global Business Manager

for LyondellBasell's Metocene resins.



    The wicking effect



    The Dryarn fiber was chosen by SLAM to produce the "Area 51" jersey due

to its wicking effect, which conducts perspiration away from the skin to

the outside where it evaporates. This leads to a sweat expulsion rate that

is nearly eight times higher than polyester, which leaves the wearer dry

and comfortable. The fiber does not allow humidity to collect close to the

skin, and it retains none of the microorganisms that create odor in

garments made from synthetic fibers.



    As climatic conditions at the Beijing 2008 regattas typically exhibit

high temperatures and high humidity in the port of Qingdao, where the

competitions will be held, tests were carried out to assess the performance

of different fibers. The results confirmed that the jersey kept the wearer

significantly cooler and drier than cotton or other synthetic materials.

Athletes who participated in the tests reported that they felt dry 30

minutes after completion of the test. These trials have shown that Dryarn

out-performs competitive materials in terms of wearability and comfort.



    Lightest yarn in nature



    Metocene resin can also be used to produce yarn with outstanding

lightness characteristics. With a specific weight of 0.9 g/cm3, Dryarn is

an extremely light yarn, which provides 20 percent weight savings compared

with other fibers on the market. In addition, the fiber's excellent

resistance to sea water conditions and abrasion makes it a good choice for

the demanding nautical environment, as sea water can cause fading and

brittleness.



    Metocene resin provides a narrow molecular weight distribution that

improves the mechanical properties of the fibers, which enables up to 30

percent higher tenacity over other PP-based fibers comparable to polyester

and polyamide fibers.



    LyondellBasell sees nautical sportswear as just one of a growing range

of applications exploiting the outstanding skin-contact characteristics of

Metocene-based fibers for use in demanding conditions.



    Aquafil (http://www.aquafil.com) is an Italian company with

headquarters in Arco di Trento (Italy) and about 2,000 employees working in

11 factories in Italy, Slovenia, United States, Croatia and Thailand. There

is a strong synergy between the activities of the three Business Units

(carpet yarns, textile yarns, Plastics Engineering/Polymers), characterized

by a high level of innovation and product diversification.

http://www.aquafil.com - http://www.dryarn.com



    SLAM, founded in Genoa in 1979, is the Italian leading company in

technology clothing for sailing and is well established in the sportswear

sector with expanding collections for men, women and children.

http://www.slam.com



    LyondellBasell Industries is one of the world's largest polymers,

petrochemicals and fuels companies. We are the global leader in polyolefins

technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in propylene oxide and

derivatives; and a significant producer of fuels and refined products,

including bio-fuels. Through research and development, LyondellBasell

develops innovative materials and technologies that deliver exceptional

customer value and products that improve quality of life for people around

the world. Headquartered in The Netherlands, LyondellBasell

(http://www.lyondellbasell.com) is privately owned by Access Industries.