Preparation of modified polylactic acid fiber containing anti‐hydrolysis agents

Abstract

AbstractPolylactic acid (PLA) is a promising alternative to petroleum‐based polymers due to its biodegradability. However, its low mechanical properties in the presence of moisture are a challenge for textile applications. In this study, we investigated the effects of two anti‐hydrolysis agents, an epoxy‐based agent (ADR) and an aromatic carbodiimide‐based agent (ZIKA), on the mechanical properties and hydrolysis resistance of PLA fibers. A melt‐spinning process was used to prepare anti‐hydrolysis fibers by adding 0.3 and 0.5 wt% of ADR and ZIKA to PLA. The topology of ADR/PLA and ZIKA/PLA was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). Analysis of the compound chip revealed that ADR formed a branched chain in PLA, while ZIKA produced a linear molecular structure. The hydrolysis resistance of the fibers was evaluated by analyzing their crystallinity, hydrothermal shrinkage behavior, morphology, and tensile strength. ZIKA/PLA fibers showed higher orientation and crystallinity than ADR/PLA fibers. After hydrolysis, the tensile strength of ADR 0.5%/PLA fibers decreased by 31%, while that of ZIKA 0.5%/PLA fibers decreased by only 5% due to the linear molecular structure of ZIKA/PLA. Our findings indicate that ZIKA is more effective than ADR in producing hydrolysis‐resistant PLA fibers with high crystallinity, orientation, and mechanical durability.