Premium
Stability of poly( l ‐lactic acid) in textile applications
Author(s) -
Brožek Jiří,
Benešová Václava,
Malinová Lenka,
Kalousková Radka,
Šanda Karel,
Ledrová Zdeňka
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3329
Subject(s) - lactic acid , materials science , textile , hydrolysis , differential scanning calorimetry , molar mass , degradation (telecommunications) , chemical engineering , polymer , gel permeation chromatography , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite material , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , telecommunications , genetics , physics , bacteria , computer science , engineering , biology , thermodynamics
The present paper is focused on the use of promising bio‐based thermoplastic—poly( l ‐lactic acid)—in textile applications and with possible limits related to its enhanced sensitivity to (bio)degradation. Linear and planar fabrics made of staple were exposed to standard washing cycles imitating the maintenance of textile materials. The effect of temperature and pH of the washing bath on the degradation rate of poly( l ‐lactic acid) was monitored by the abiotic hydrolysis test. The properties of the fabrics after carrying out the tests were evaluated from the changes of mass per areal weight, strength, and morphology of the fabrics. The changes of the structure of the polymer chains were assessed by differential scanning calorimetry, by the decrease of molar masses (determined using size exclusion chromatography) and of the viscosity of the polymer solutions, and by infrared spectroscopy. Poly( l ‐lactic acid) fabric finds application for various kinds of garments, and untreated fabric reliably tolerates 60 standard washing cycles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.