Polylactic Acid Fibers Research Articles

Preparing gelatin-containing polycaprolactone / polylactic acid nanofibrous membranes for periodontal tissue regeneration using side-by-side electrospinning technology.

Electrospinning technology has recently attracted increased attention in the biomedical field, and preparing various cellulose nanofibril membranes for periodontal tissue regeneration has unique advantages. However, the characteristics of using a single material tend to make it challenging to satisfy the requirements for a periodontal barrier film, and the production of composite fibrous membranes frequently impacts the quality of the final fiber membrane due to the influence of miscibility between different materials. In this study, nanofibrous membranes composed of polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were fabricated using side-by-side electrospinning. Different concentrations of gelatin were added to the fiber membranes to improve their hydrophilic properties. The morphological structure of the different films as well as their composition, wettability and mechanical characteristics were examined. The results show that PCL/PLA dual-fibrous composite membranes with an appropriate amount of gelatin ensures sufficient mechanical strength while obtaining improved hydrophilic properties. The viability of L929 fibroblasts was evaluated using CCK-8 assays, and cell adhesion on the scaffolds was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and by immunofluorescence assays. The results demonstrated that none of the fibrous membranes were toxic to cells and the addition of gelatin improved cell adhesion to those membranes. Based on our findings, adding 30% gelatin to the membrane may be the most appropriate content for periodontal tissue regeneration, considering the scaffold's mechanical qualities, hydrophilic properties and biocompatibility. In addition, the PCL-gelatin/PLA-gelatin dual-fibrous membranes prepared using side-by-side electrospinning technology have potential applications for tissue engineering.

Confined Water Dynamics in the Scaffolds of Polylactic Acid.

Resorbable polylactic acid (PLA) ultrathin fibers have been applied as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications due to their micro- and nanoporous structure that favor cell adhesion, besides inducing cell proliferation and upregulating gene expression related to tissue regeneration. Incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes into PLA fibers has been reported to increase the mechanical properties of the scaffold, making them even more suitable for tissue engineering applications. Ideally, scaffolds should be degraded simultaneously with tissue growth. Hydration and swelling are factors related to scaffold degradation. Hydration would negatively impact the mechanical properties since PLA shows hydrolytic degradation. Water absorption critically affects the catalysis and allowance of the hydrolysis reactions. Moreover, either mass transport and chemical reactions are influenced by confined water, which is an unexplored subject for PLA micro- and nanoporous fibers. Here, we probe and investigate confined water onto highly porous PLA microfibers containing few amounts of incorporated carbon nanotubes by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A hydrostatic pressure was applied to the fibers to enhance the intermolecular interactions between water molecules and C=O groups from polyester bonds, which were evaluated over the wavenumber between 1600 and 2000 cm-1. The analysis of temperature dependence of FTIR spectra indicated the presence of confined water which is characterized by a non-Arrhenius to Arrhenius crossover at T0 = 190 K for 1716 and 1817 cm-1 carbonyl bands of PLA. These bands are sensitive to a hydrogen bond network of confined water. The relevance of our finding relies on the challenge detecting confined water in hydrophobic cavities as in the PLA one. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first report referring the presence of confined water in a hydrophobic scaffold as PLA for tissue engineering. Our findings can provide new opportunities to understand the role of confined water in tissue engineering applications. For instance, we argue that PLA degradation may be affected the most by confined water. PLA degradation involves hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation reactions, which can both be sensitive to changes in water properties.

Improved Recovery of Complete Spinal Cord Transection by a Plasma-Modified Fibrillar Scaffold.

Complete spinal cord injury causes an irreversible disruption in the central nervous system, leading to motor, sensory, and autonomic function loss, and a secondary injury that constitutes a physical barrier preventing tissue repair. Tissue engineering scaffolds are presented as a permissive platform for cell migration and the reconnection of spared tissue. Iodine-doped plasma pyrrole polymer (pPPy-I), a neuroprotective material, was applied to polylactic acid (PLA) fibers and implanted in a rat complete spinal cord transection injury model to evaluate whether the resulting composite implants provided structural and functional recovery, using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, diffusion tensor imaging and tractography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, locomotion analysis, histology, and immunofluorescence. In vivo, MR studies evidenced a tissue response to the implant, demonstrating that the fibrillar composite scaffold moderated the structural effects of secondary damage by providing mechanical stability to the lesion core, tissue reconstruction, and significant motor recovery. Histologic analyses demonstrated that the composite scaffold provided a permissive environment for cell attachment and neural tissue guidance over the fibers, reducing cyst formation. These results supply evidence that pPPy-I enhanced the properties of PLA fibrillar scaffolds as a promising treatment for spinal cord injury recovery.

Interfacial control and dispersion characteristics of polylactic acid fiber/pulp fiber composites

AbstractTo solve the problem of the dispersibility of pulp fiber in polylactic acid (PLA)/pulp fiber composites, PLA fiber instead of PLA beads and pulp fiber were used for initial physical mixing, and then internal mixer‐melting was conducted. The dispersion of pulp fiber in PLA was improved compared with conventional composite preparation protocols. After the pulp fiber was treated with a silane coupling agent, the compatibility of the composite and the transparency of the material were also improved. When the pulp fiber content reached 30%, the mechanical properties and heat resistance of the composite were optimal: tensile fracture strength of 56.52 MPa, and thermal deformation temperature increase of 5°C. Rheological studies indicate that when the pulp fiber content reached 10%, the system exhibited a PLA‐pulp fiber network. When the pulp fiber content was ≥20%, the system exhibited a PLA–PLA and pulp fiber–pulp fiber dual‐network structure.Highlights The dispersion of filler in the matrix was improved by blending fiber with fiber. There was rheological percolation upon filling the pulp fiber in the PLA matrix. The coupling agent facilitated reactive compatibilization and PLA chain extension.

Experimental design for determining the factors influencing the filtration efficiency of solution-blown spun polylactic acid filters

Millions of people are wearing face masks because of the COVID-19 epidemic, and these masks are indiscriminately releasing pollutants into the atmosphere. One of the most appealing and promising bio-based polymers for face masks is polylactic acid (PLA). Solution-blown spinning (SBS) is a rapid and easy way to produce micro and nanofibers that may be quickly deposited on any substrate. This study aims to produce and evaluate solution-blown spun PLA fibers used as filter media. PLA nanowebs were observed for their morphology, weight, thickness, air permeability, water contact angle, and filtration properties. The average diameter of the fibers ranged between ∼163 and ∼282 nm. NaCI aerosol filtration test results showed that the filtration efficiency of these nanowebs was ≥ 94% and the pressure drop was ≤ 240 Pa, meeting requirements was assigned to the class EN 149: FFP2 particle-filtering half-maks. Filtration performance was significantly influenced by the flow rate and polymer concentration. The resulting equations for the design of experiments (DoE) regression model were examined and found to be appropriate for predicting the parameter combinations required for the desired quality factor of PLA filters. The fast and economical features of the SBS process, as well as the biodegradable nature of the PLA polymer, may considerably contribute to the development of environmentally friendly filters.

Biodegradable flexible conductive film based on sliver nanowires and PLA electrospun fibers

AbstractBiodegradable conductive films are crucial for the sustainable development of wearable electronics. In this work, a flexible and degradable conductive film was prepared based on a carefully designed interface of polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun fibers and silver nanowires (AgNWs). The amphiphilic triblock copolymer was added to PLA solution for electrospinning, followed by solvent posttreatment to induce the hydrophilic block of the amphiphilic triblock copolymer to migrate to the fiber surface. Dopamine can be uniformly polymerized on the surface of hydrophilic PLA fibers, and the prepared PLA@PDA fiber film can form a good interface combination with AgNWs. The electrical conductivity of AgNWs/PLA@PDA flexible film can reach 258.5 S cm−1, showing obvious Joule heating effect and good mechanical properties. Degradation experiments showed that in phosphate buffered saline, the PLA molecular chain showed a dynamic equilibrium due to the scission and rearrangement of the ester groups and degraded slowly, while AgNWs/PLA@PDA degraded rapidly under alkaline conditions. Our study provides a simple and controllable method to prepare flexible degradable electronic films, which is expected to be applied to flexible wearable bioelectrodes.

Modification of PLA fibers with novel chitosan-based flame retardants by centrifugal melt electrospinning

A novel flame retardant (CSFR) was developed by grafting polylactic acid (PLA) and melamine phosphate ester onto a chitosan framework to enhance the flame retardancy of PLA fibers without compromising their other excellent properties. The PLA/CSFR flame retardant fiber membranes were successfully prepared using a self-designed constant temperature centrifugal melt electrospinning device. Results demonstrated that the synthesized CSFR exhibited a mass residue of 30% at 800°C. Adding a small amount of CSFR effectively improved the fibers' flame retardancy and mechanical properties, while excessive CSFR content resulted in a decline in mechanical performance. The optimal content of CSFR was determined to be 1.0%. The PLA/1.0%CSFR fibers achieved an impressive oxygen index of 42.3% and a mass residue of 7.98% at 800°C. Furthermore, the modified fibers significantly enhanced maximum elongation by 137.5% and tensile strength by 130.27% compared to pure PLA fibers. The molecular weight of the modified fibers decreased by 66.15%, and the mass loss rate was 8.57% after 12 hours of UV irradiation. The synthesized PLA/1.0%CSFR fibers exhibited exceptional flame retardancy, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and UV degradation performance.

Development and comprehensive investigation on PLA / carbon fiber reinforced PLA based structurally alternate layered polymer composites

Progressive research on polymer composites is encouraged in this current era in order to create a new functional structured material for various integrated engineering applications. The present investigation entails developing a novel Structurally alternate-layered Material (SAM) with a common Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) via theirsuccessive alternate layer deposition using the non-toxic and high printing speed capacity 3D printing approach - Filament Freedom Fabrication (FFF) with raster angle of 0°. Extensive experimental studies on mechanical behavior and microscopic observation of SAM are carried out. Furthermore, SAM is subjected to numerical simulation via ABACUS on mechanical testing for identifying its tensile and compression behaviour. The resulting data are compared to those of PLA and CFRP. The results obtained from both the numerical and experimental methodologies are congruent, indicating that the mechanical behaviour of SAM is superior to PLA and marginally comparable to CFRP. Overall, the newly synthesized SAM is advantageous and could be potentially considered as a mechanically stabled, cost-effectiveand feasible alternative polymer composite material for any integrated engineering applications.

Hydrophilic Modification of Polylactic Acid Fiber and the Usage of Natural Dye for Multi-Levered Improvement of the Fabric Staining Depth and the Stability Effect.

Polylactic acid (PLA) fiber is a degradable material with good environmental friendliness for textile applications. However, the main problems of difficult dyeing of PLA fibers were: high crystallinity to the adsorption of dyes, more ester and methyl groups producing non-hydrophilic problems, long chains making dyes difficult to penetrate, and producing a low dyeing rate. Here, we attempted to change the crystallinity of the PLA fiber to a lower degree from hydrophobic to hydrophilicity property variation, destroy the long chain structure to grant more staining sites, and improve the PLA fiber staining depth and the resilience dyeing effect with deep eutectic solvent (DES) treatment and natural dyes. We discovered that a controlled DES treatment process could make PLA fibers less crystallized, help amorphous areas form, and break up long chains, which lead to more dye sites. After DES treatment, the crystallinity decreased from 56.12 to 29.86%, and the instantaneous water contact angle decreased from 108.79 to 64.39°. The DES-treated PLA fabric exhibited a higher K/S value of 15.14 for natural dyes under specific conditions. The fabric, which had remarkable fastness characteristics and wash resistance, could endure frequent laundering and fulfill the demands of everyday use. Moreover, the fabric had good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans and possessed a certain level of biocompatibility with fibroblasts. This DES treatment and natural dye combination method offered a new strategy for improving PLA fabric staining depth and color fastness, making it a promising option for low-carbon environmental protection in the textile industry.

Synergistic effect of stereo-complexation and interfacial compatibility in ammonium polyphosphate grafted polylactic acid fibers for simultaneously improved toughness and flame retardancy

Flammability and poor toughness of unmodified PLA limit its applications in various fields. Though ammonium polyphosphate (APP) is a green and effective flame retardant, it has poor compatibility with the matrix, leading to a decrease in mechanical properties. Stereo-complexation greatly improves the strength and heat resistance of traditional PLA. However, the effect of flame retardants on the formation of stereo-complexed crystals and the impact of stereo-complexation on flame retardancy have not been studied previously. In this research, PDLA chains were first in-situ reacted with APP particles for improved interfacial compatibility. By utilizing the characteristic of PLA enantiomers that can form stereo-complexed crystals, near-complete stereo-complexed PLA fibers with flame retardancy were produced via clean and continuous melt spinning. The compatibility between PDLA-g-APP and PLLA matrix was studied by SEM, rheological analyses and DSC. Strength and flexibility of the fibers were simultaneously enhanced compared to traditional PLA due to the synergistic effect of interfacial compatibility and stereo-complexation. Compared to traditional PLA, the peak heat release rate and total heat release in microcalorimetry test were reduced by 33 % and 22 %, respectively. The flame-retardant fibers achieved a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test, and an increase in LOI value from 19.4 % to 28.2 %.

Effects of Polybutylene Succinate Content on the Rheological Properties of Polylactic Acid/Polybutylene Succinate Blends and the Characteristics of Their Fibers.

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) are gaining prominence as environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based polymers due to their inherent biodegradability. For their textile applications, this research is focused on exploring the effects of PBS content on the rheological properties of PLA/PBS blends and the characteristics of PLA/PBS blend fibers. PLA/PBS blends and fibers with varying PBS contents (0 to 10 wt.%) were prepared using melt-blending and spinning methods. Uniform morphologies of the PLA/PBS blends indicated that PBS was compatible with PLA, except at 10% PBS content, where phase separation occurred. The introduction of PBS reduced the complex viscosity of the blends, influencing fiber properties. Notably, PLA/PBS fibers with 7% PBS exhibited improved crystallinity, orientation factor, and elasticity (~16.58%), with a similar tensile strength to PLA fiber (~3.58 MPa). The results suggest that an optimal amount of PBS enhances alignment along the drawing direction and improves the molecular motion in PLA/PBS blend fiber. This study highlights the potential of strategically blending PBS to improve PLA fiber characteristics, promising advancement in textile applications.

Non-Woven Fibrous Polylactic Acid/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites Obtained via Solution Blow Spinning: Morphology, Thermal and Mechanical Behavior.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is widely used in tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. PLA can be modified with appropriate biocompatible ceramic materials since this would allow tailoring the mechanical properties of the tissues to be engineered. In this study, PLA-based non-woven fibrillar nanocomposites containing nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (HA), a bioceramic commonly used in bone tissue engineering, were prepared via solution blow spinning (SBS). The compositions of the final materials were selected to study the influence of HA concentration on the structure, morphology, and thermal and mechanical properties. The resulting materials were highly porous and mainly constituted fibers. FTIR analysis did not reveal any specific interactions. The diameters of the fibers varied very little with the composition. For example, slightly thinner fibers were obtained for pure PLA and PLA + 10% HA, with fiber diameters of less than 400 nm, while the thicker fibers were found for PLA + 1% HA, with average diameters of 427 ± 170 nm. The crystallinity and stiffness of the PLA/HA composite increased with the HA content. Further, composites containing PLA fibers with slightly larger diameters were more ductile. Thus, with an appropriate balance between factors, such as the diameter of the solution-blow-spun PLA fibers, HA particle content, and degree of crystallinity, PLA/HA composites may be effectively used in tissue engineering applications.

Impact of Polylactic Acid Fibers in Cellulose Nonwoven Mulch Blends on Biodegradability and Performance-An Open Field Study.

The performance and degradation of nonwoven mulches made from viscose, jute, hemp fibers, and their blends with PLA fibers, subjected to field conditions, are investigated. This research explores the possible substitution of traditional agricultural polyethylene mulching agro foil with environmentally friendly biodegradable nonwoven mulches produced from blends of jute, hemp, and viscose fibers along with PLA fibers. The nonwoven mulches underwent a ten-month exposure to field conditions, showing varied degradation. The jute and hemp nonwoven mulches degraded completely within the test period, whereas their blends with PLA fibers exhibited slowed degradation. This study indicated that PLA fibers in blends with jute, hemp, and viscose mulches slowed degradation, impacting their structural integrity and tensile properties. The tensile properties of nonwoven mulches blended with 20% of PLA fibers increased the breaking forces after field exposure. Observations on structural changes through microscopy highlighted the structure maintenance in jute and hemp blends due to the non-degraded PLA fibers, contrasting the complete degradation of 100% jute and hemp mulches. A microscopic analysis revealed alterations in the fiber structure and density changes, particularly in viscose mulches and their blends with PLA fibers. Soil temperature variations were observed under different mulches; e.g., agro foil consistently exhibited higher temperatures compared to nonwoven mulches. Notably, the hemp and jute/PLA blend mulches showed slightly elevated temperatures, while the viscose-based mulches consistently revealed the lowest temperatures. Regarding soil moisture, the nonwoven mulches generally maintained higher moisture levels compared to the control field and agro foil from June to October. These findings suggest that nonwoven mulches effectively preserved soil moisture during critical growth periods, potentially positively impacting plant growth. The weed suppression capabilities varied among mulches, with hemp mulch initially displaying the lowest suppression ability in the first six months. The addition of 20% of PLA fibers in mulch blends with viscose, jute, and hemp notably improved the weed control capabilities. Understanding the impacts of field conditions on newly produced nonwoven mulches is crucial for optimizing mulch selection in agricultural practices to enhance soil conditions and weed management.

Hydrolytic degradation and biodegradation of polylactic acid electrospun fibers

Increased use of bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreases energy consumption and lowers pollution, but its degradation efficiency has much room for improvement. The degradation rate of electrospun PLA fibers of varying diameters ranging from 0.15 to 1.33 μm is measured during hydrolytic degradation under different pH from 5.5 to 10, and during aerobic biodegradation in seawater supplemented with activated sewage sludge. In hydrolytic conditions, varying PLA fiber diameter had significant influence over percentage weight loss (W%L), where faster degradation was achieved for PLA fibers with smaller diameter. W%L was greatest for PLA-5 > PLA-12 > PLA-16 > PLA-20, with average W%L at 30.7%, 27.8%, 17.2% and 14.3% respectively. While different pH environment does not have a significant influence on PLA degradation, with W%L only slightly higher for basic environments. Similarly biodegradation displayed faster degradation for small diameter fibers with PLA-5 attaining the highest degree of biodegradation at 22.8% after 90 days. Hydrolytic degradation resulted in no significant structural change, while biodegradation resulted in significant hydroxyl end capping products on the PLA surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of degraded PLA fibers showed a deteriorated morphology of PLA-5 and PLA-12 fibers with increased adhesion structures and irregularly shaped fibers, while a largely unmodified morphology for PLA-16 and PLA-20.

Green processing via surface diffuse atmospheric plasma to enhance the dyeing performance on polylactic acid fabric.

Poor dyeing performance has been a major defect of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, which is caused by the lack of active chemical groups in PLA, and hinders the widespread use of this biodegradable material. Most of the existing chemical modification methods are not environmentally friendly and produce effluents. Herein, we report a green, efficient and continuous method to process PLA fibers via surface diffuse atmospheric plasma for the improvement of its hydrophilicity and dyeing performance. PLA fibers were processed via atmospheric plasma for grafting oxygen-containing functional groups, such as carboxyl, to achieve hydrophilicity and, meanwhile, strengthen the binding interactions with various dye molecules via covalent bonds, ionic bonds, or hydrogen bonds. In addition, different mechanisms of improving the dyeing performance on plasma-modified PLA fibers with different kinds of dyes have been discussed. This approach of material modification involves no chemical additives and has high processing efficiency, showing the potential applicability of green treatment to products in various fields.

Low-temperature dyeing performance of polylactic acid fabrics pretreated with natural deep eutectic solvent

With growing concern over the environmental effects of petroleum-based plastics, significant strides have been made in developing bio-based materials. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable material made from renewable starch. It has garnered considerable attention for its outstanding performance and ability to biodegrade in plastic products. However, the utilization of PLA fibers in fabrics has been restricted because of their challenges in dyeing and vulnerability to hydrolysis when exposed to high temperatures. In this study, we propose utilizing a natural and environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) to modify PLA fibers, which results in outstanding dyeability at low temperatures. This modification technique offers the potential for sustainable textile processing. Under identical dyeing time conditions to C.I. Disperse Orange 30, NaDES-treated PLA exhibits comparable coloring performance to untreated PLA at 90 °C when dyed at 70 °C. Compared to conventional PLA dyeing, treating PLA with NaDES reduces the crystalline diffraction intensity of the fibers. This leads to a surface that is rougher and a looser structure. This leads to darker colors because the dye diffuses more easily into the fibers. Energy consumption and life cycle assessment results indicate that this process not only achieves a greater color depth of the PLA fabric but also reduces energy consumption by about 25.5%. The methodology proposed in this study presents a viable strategy for establishing a sustainable and circular economy with low carbon emissions, utilizing clean and alternative technologies.

Istraživanje nekih svojstva površinske hrapavosti tkanina proizvedene od održivih prediva

Biodegradable polymers have attracted attention in recent years owing to increased sensibility to waste management. Polylactic acid (PLA) fibers have been recently utilized in textile products owing to its being biodegradable with low environmental impact. PLA fibers decompose into simpler compounds, thereby minimizing their environmental impact. Woven fabrics produced from sustainable yarns such as PLA or its blends may be good alternative textile products with a sustainable manner. This research was carried out to compare the surface roughness characteristics of some woven fabrics which are plain, 2/2 twill, and 5/1 satin woven samples. Fabric samples were woven with different weft yarns (polyester, polylactic acid, and recycled polyester/Trevira) at various weft yarn densities but with the same warp yarn properties. Surface roughness values of the samples including arithmetic average height (Ra), mean height of peaks (Rpm), mean depth of valleys (Rvm) and mean slope of the profile (Da) were analysed. Effect of different raw materials and fabric properties such as warp/weft density, weave pattern on surface roughness were tried to be analysed within the study.

ANALYSIS OF AIRFLOW RESISTIVITY AND ACOUSTIC ABSORPTION OF FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC COMPOSITES MADE OF POLYLACTIC ACID AND NATURAL FIBRES

This study compares the airflow resistivity and acoustic properties of fibre-reinforced plastic composites (NFRP) with different mixing ratios of polylactic acid (PLA) and the natural fibres flax and cotton for the application in construction as lightweight structures, car door linings or seat pans. The composites are made from the binder fibre PLA, the bast fibre flax and two different kinds of cotton. Nonwovens are consolidated with a thermoforming process to manufacture the NFRP. The addition of cotton improves the absorption by increasing the number of air pockets (pores) and reducing their shape due to the fineness of the cotton. The airflow resistivity of samples with different mixing ratios were analysed and compared. The airflow resistivity is modelled with different calculation models that use distinct material parameters and the transferability is assessed. Further, the absorption coefficient is analysed and compared to the airflow resistivity. The study shows that there is a dependency of the two parameters.

Bending Behavior of 3D Printed Polymeric Sandwich Structures with Various Types of Core Topologies

In this study, bending performance and energy absorption capabilities of sandwich structures with different types of core topologies. Specifically, four types of core geome-tries including cylindrical, hexagonal, square, and triangular were investigated. Sandwich structures were fabricated using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printing method using polylactic acid (PLA) and carbon fiber reinforced polylactic acid (CF-PLA). The ma-terial properties of PLA and CF-PLA were determined via tensile test. Three-point bending tests were performed to achieve the energy absorption performance of sandwich struc-tures. The findings of the bending test show that the core topology has a substantial im-pact on sandwich constructions' capacity to absorb energy. Additionally, it has been ob-served that the use of different materials affects the energy absorption capacity of sand-wich structures.

Utilization of Waste Natural Fibers Mixed with Polylactic Acid (PLA) Bicomponent Fiber: Incorporating Kapok and Cattail Fibers for Nonwoven Medical Textile Applications.

Disposable surgical gowns are usually made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers that do not naturally decompose, impacting the environment. A promising approach to diminish the environmental impact of disposable gowns involves utilizing natural fibers and/or bio-based synthetic fibers. In this study, composite webs from polylactic acid (PLA) bicomponent fiber and natural fibers, cattail and kapok fibers, were prepared using the hot press method. Only the sheath region of the PLA bicomponent fiber melted, acting as an adhesive that enhanced the strength and reduced the thickness of the composite web compared with its state before hot pressing. The mechanical and physical properties of these composite webs were evaluated. Composite webs created from kapok fibers displayed a creamy yellowish-white color, while those made from cattail fibers showed a light yellowish-brown color. Additionally, the addition of natural fibers endowed the composite webs with hydrophobic properties. The maximum natural fiber content, at a ratio of 30:70 (natural fiber to PLA fiber), can be incorporated while maintaining proper water vapor permeability and mechanical properties. This nonwoven material presents an alternative with the potential to replace petroleum-based surgical gowns.