Physical characterization and biodegradation of fibers produced by melt-spinning of aliphatic polyesters

The increasing environmental concerns surrounding synthetic fibers, particularly their contribution to microplastic pollution are driving research toward sustainable alternatives. This study explores the processing, thermal, mechanical, and environmental characteristics of melt-spun biodegradable fibers derived from various biodegradable polymers, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL), and some copolymers. The melt-spinning process was optimized to address challenges such as thermal degradation, low melt strength, and crystallization limitations. The resulting fibers were analyzed for their mechanical properties, thermal behavior, and biodegradation potential under different environmental conditions, including composting and weathering assessments. The findings indicate that fiber performance is highly dependent on the polymer structure and processing parameters, with PLA and PGA demonstrating superior tensile properties and crystallization behavior, whereas PHA and most copolymers exhibited processing limitations or low-tenacity fibers. The results provide some insights into the development of high-performance biodegradable fibers suitable for textile and technical applications, paving the way for sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic fibers.