Mimicking Smart Textile by Fabricating Stereocomplex Poly(Lactic Acid) Nanocomposite Fibers

Abstract

In the modern age, humans with their demanding nature along with comfort and fashion are also oriented toward flourishing functional textile products which have led researchers to focus toward the development of smart textiles. Scientists are now trying to introduce extraordinary properties like durable pressing performance, ultraviolet resistance, antistatic, antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties which are different from the conventional textiles. Most of the manmade fibers used in textile industry are petroleum-based which are depleting the natural resources and destructing the ecological balance at a constant rate. In this regard, the sustainable polymers for smart textiles would serve as promising candidates in solving the problem of discarding textiles. The current chapter therefore aims at providing insights about the utilization of biodegradable polymers in smart textiles. Among various biodegradable polymers, PLA has a great reputation in terms of its biodegradability, high mechanical performance and hydrophobicity. But the limitations of PLA fibers lie in its brittleness, degradation during home laundering and even storage condition. Thereby, this chapter includes the introduction of preferable and desirable approach like stereocomplexation in order to obtain a high heat stable stereocomplex PLA fiber for home laundering also. The fabrication of functional stereocomplex PLA fibers is possible by incorporating various bionanofillers which will be discussed in this chapter. Eventually, the application of such smart textile is also concerned toward the safety of human beings which will be very useful for academic and industrial use to cope up with the new concept of smart fabrics using biodegradable polymer.