Poly(lactic acid) fibers, yarns and fabrics: Manufacturing, properties and applications

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fiber was developed more than a decade ago. It has been regarded as the most promising sustainable and biodegradable fiber to replace conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester fiber in textile products. This paper reviews recent developments in PLA polymerization, PLA filament and fiber spinning, staple yarn spinning, fabric production, dyeing and finishing and aftercare procedures. The properties of PLA fiber are broadly similar to those of PET fiber; however, the properties of PLA fiber that differ, including thermal degradation and low hydrolytic resistance to strong alkaline, significantly affect the method selection and parameter setting of production and processing of PLA fibers and fabrics. PLA filaments are mainly produced by two-step melt spinning to get fibers with stable quality, but degradation at high temperature is still a problem. PLA staple yarns are normally spun using ring spinning. Currently existing knitting or weaving techniques can be used to produce PLA fabrics. PLA fabrics can be dyed with disperse dyes at 110°C, but their color fastness and shades are different from PET fabrics when using the same dyes. The scouring and dyeing of PLA/cotton blended fabrics and the reductive clearing after dyeing remain to be improved. As a new fiber, the entry of PLA fiber into the textile market faces difficult challenges as well as great opportunities in the future.

Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process

“…More specifically, in agreement with its higher non-polar nature, PLA grafted with Oct-Si(OEt) 3 showed a greater contact angle, achieving a WCA of 82.2 • and therefore an increase in the hydrophobicity of almost 20% compared with neat PLA. Relating the results shown in the hydrobicity and mechanical tests, it appears that the functionalized samples, on the one hand, possess higher hydrophobicity and on the other hand superior mechanical strength properties due to the superior longitudinal alignment of polymer molecular chains, as Yan et al demonstrated [58]. In addition, the insertion of the polar groups present in molecules such as Oct-Si(OEt) 3 may lead to a higher interaction between PLA molecules, restricting their mobility and increasing the mechanical properties.…”

“…As listed in Table 8, results confirmed the non-detrimental influence on mechanical properties when functional moieties were grafted into the PLA matrix. In this sense, functionalized samples depicted slightly superior tensile strength and Young's modulus, as well as lower elongation at break than neat PLA, which is related to the application of higher draw ratios and, consequently, superior longitudinal alignment of polymer molecular chains [58]. According to DSC results, the presence of alkoxysilanes into the PLA backbone caused a lubricant effect that allowed a more severe drawing treatment, reaching greater ordered crystalline structures and, consequently, increasing the Young's modulus.…”

Poly(lactic Acid): A Versatile Biobased Polymer for the Future with Multifunctional Properties—From Monomer Synthesis, Polymerization Techniques and Molecular Weight Increase to PLA Applications

“…This can affect the parameter setting and method selection while producing and processing PLA fiber or fabrics. Fibers made of PLA find a wide range of uses, from pharmaceutical and medical applications to environmentally friendly films and fibers for packaging, clothing, and houseware [ 140 , 141 ].…”

Tailoring of advanced poly(lactic acid)‐based materials: A review

“…PLA fibers can be used for versatile textile production 39 . Although textile is easily manufactured and processed, thermal degradation of PLA and low hydrolytic resistance to strong alkaline significantly affect its industrial application 41 …”

“…It is, thus, of great industrial and society interest to increase the overall performance of PLA to generate added‐value material with improved properties. Different processing methods have been proposed to overcome PLA material limitations and to increase the number of its applications 7,12–15,36–38,40,41,45–55 . However, no research encompassed all conventional and up‐to‐date technologies for PLA processing, with a comprehensive overview of particular processing method effects on the material properties for a particular end‐application.…”