Effects of Time of Heat Setting and Wet Processes on Tensile properties of Griege Knitted Ingeo™ Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) Fabric

Idumah CI Nwachukwu AN

doi:10.4172/2165-8064.1000137

Abstract

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is an aliphatic polyester and ecofriendly material of a natural origin with biodegradable properties. The monomer for PLA is lactic acid obtained from the fermentation of sugar and vegetables like corn and cassava. This study investigated the effect of heatsetting and wet processes on the tensile properties of treated and untreated Ingeo™ Poly (Lactic acid) PLA knitted fabrics. PLA samples of dimension 200 mm×200 mm were subjected to heatsetting at a temperature of 130°C and increasing times of 15s, 30s, 45s, 60s, 90s, 120s and 240s respectively using the Werner Mathis infra red heatsetting equipment and subsequently treated to wet processes including scouring, alkaline reduction clearing, dyeing and softening. Four tensile parameters were determined in warp and weft direction using the KES-FB system of fabric evaluation. These tensile parameters were tensile extension EM [%], linearity of load extension LT [-], tensile energy WT [g.cm/cm2] and tensile resilience RT [%]. Results indicated a remarkable change in tensile properties of PLA with increasing times of heat setting and wet processes.

Highlights

Ingeo Polylactic acid is the only synthetic fiber available in large commercial quantities and wholly produced from an annually renewable raw material source that is not oil [1]
The optimum time of heatsetting Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) yarns to minimize shrinkage during subsequent wet processing is within the range of 30-40s at 130°C
This implies that PLA exhibited enhanced fabric hand or softness and increased formability after heat treatments and wet processes

Summary

Introduction

Ingeo Polylactic acid is the only synthetic fiber available in large commercial quantities and wholly produced from an annually renewable raw material source that is not oil [1]. The fundamental raw material for the production of Ingeo PLA is corn [1,2]. The process starts with corn, an abundant raw material that can and efficiently converted into plane sugars which subsequently undergo fermentation [3]. The fermentation products are immediately transformed into high performance polymer called polylactide from which the branded Ingeo fibers and filaments are extruded [4]. Lactic acid obtained from the fermentation of sugar obtained from cassava or corn is used as a monomer for PLA polymerization [5,6]. The fibers are drawn and annealed to give desirable mechanical properties such as high tenacity, good toughness and good dimensional stability [9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion