The ability of polylactide (PLA) to retain its mechanical properties after repeated cleanings at various pH levels, washing temperatures, and drying conditions has been studied. One of the problems with PLA is its poor resistance to hydrolysis, especially under alkaline conditions. In this study, PLA fabrics were sent through 50 cleaning cycles with different pH levels (8 or 10), washing temperatures (35 or 558C), and drying conditions (air dry at 218C/65% relative humidity or tumble dry at 50 or 708C). The retention percentages of the breaking tenacity, breaking elongation, and modulus of the PLA yarns were measured after every 10 cleaning cycles. A pH of 8 gave greater breaking tenacity, breaking elongation, and modulus retention than pH 10. Washing PLA at 358C and air drying it at 218C resulted in greater modulus retention than washing and drying at higher temperatures. Hydrolysis of the polymer was the main cause of the loss in mechanical properties. Equations were developed to predict the retention percentage of the breaking tenacity, breaking elongation, and modulus based on the pH, number of cleaning cycles, and washing and drying temperatures. Recommendations for appropriate conditions for the cleaning of PLA fabrics that result in greater mechanical property retention are given.
The appropriate laundering conditions for the care of polylactide (PLA) textiles have been found. One problem with PLA is its poor resistance to hydrolysis and dramatic loss in strength at conditions typically used in textile processing such as alkaline conditions and elevated temperatures. In this study, PLA fabrics underwent 50 home laundering cycles at various pH levels (8 or 10), washing temperatures (35°C or 55°C), and drying conditions (line dry at 21°C/65% relative humidity or tumble dry at 50 or 70°C). After every 10 laundering cycle, the breaking tenacity, breaking elongation, and modulus of yarns in the PLA fabric were measured. It was found that washing PLA fabrics at pH 8 and 35°C and line drying it at 21°C and 65% relative humidity resulted in greater retention in mechanical properties than washing them at pH 10 and 55°C and tumble drying at 70°C. The authors therefore recommend the following care instructions for PLA textiles: use mild detergents with relatively low pH (pH 8), machine wash cold (35°C), and line dry. If machine drying is desired, tumble dry at the low heat setting or permanent press setting (50°C) is recommended.
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