Abstract
A clean and cost-effective method for 100% stereo-complexation in polylactide (PLA) fibers with molecular weight (MW) as high as 6 × 105 demonstrates good potential for industrial-scale continuous manufacture. Polylactide, a widely recognized biodegradable and renewable biopolymer, has a negligible share of plastic markets due to its poor hydrolytic and thermal resistance. Stereo-complexation is effective in overcoming these challenges. However, current stereo-complexation approaches usually require solvents and/or external nucleation reagents, and are expensive and complicated. Moreover, high-MW PLAs favored for developing durable products are difficult to be stereo-complexed. In this research, enantiomeric PLAs both with MW up to 6 × 105 were completely stereo-complexed via a facile thermal treatment on pilot-scale devices. Neither solvent nor nucleation agent was used. For poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) fibers with MW of 6 × 105, percentage retention of MW and percentage retention of tensile strength after hydrolysis under simulated textile dyeing condition increased from 39% to 93% and from 20% to 89%, respectively, after complete stereo-complexation. The melting point, softening point and percentage retention of MW after hydrolysis of stereo-complexed PLA (sc-PLA) fibers were up to 51 °C, up to 59 °C and up to 183% higher than that of PLLA fibers with the same MW, respectively. The mechanism of thorough stereo-complexation in high-MW PLA fibers was proposed and verified. It is promising to use this approach to broaden industrial applications of renewable and degradable biopolymers for sustainable development of material industries.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 151-158 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Cleaner Production |
Volume | 176 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2018 |
Keywords
- Continuous production
- Hydrolysis resistance
- Polylactide fiber
- Softening temperature
- Solvent-free
- Stereo-complexation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Environmental Science(all)
- Strategy and Management
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering