Biodegradable fibres spun from poly(lactide) generated by reactive extrusion.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Poly(lactide) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with potential in textile applications.
• Understanding the relationship between melt spinning conditions and fiber properties is crucial for optimizing PLA fiber performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of melt spinning conditions on the structural hierarchy of PLA fibers.
• To correlate the structural development with the resulting textile physical properties.
• To analyze PLA degradation during spinning.

Main Methods:

• High-speed spinning (1000-5000 m/min) and spin drawing (draw ratios 4-6) of PLA fibers.
• Characterization using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS), and birefringence for crystallinity and orientation.
• Tensile testing to determine stress-strain behavior.
• Analysis of thermal and rheological properties of PLA pellets.

Main Results:

• Spin-drawn PLA fibers achieved a maximum break stress of approximately 490 MPa and an E-modulus of 6.3 GPa at 30% elongation at break.
• Melt spinning conditions influenced the degree of crystallinity and molecular orientation in PLA fibers.
• PLA degradation during spinning was assessed to optimize process parameters.

Conclusions:

• Melt spinning processes, particularly spin drawing, can effectively control the structural hierarchy and enhance the mechanical properties of PLA fibers.
• Optimized spinning parameters are essential for achieving high-performance PLA textiles.
• Further research can leverage these findings for advanced biodegradable fiber development.