Polylactic Acid Fiber

Polylactic Acid Fiber

Polylactic acid (PLA) fiber is also known as corn fiber because it began to be produced from corn, but in addition to corn, the raw material is potatoes, sugar beets and other crops. It is said that Fengyuan Group research and use straw as raw material to produce lactic acid, and has achieved certain results.

In 2003, the United States Cargill Dow Polymers company launched their own brand of corn fiber - Ingeo™, more claimed to be the world's first not to petroleum refining, and with 100 percent annual renewable materials to produce synthetic fiber. The fibre is produced by boiling the corn for 30 to 40 hours at 36 ° C to make it swell and soften the husk. Then special machines are used to filter and grind the impurities in the corn to separate the starch that is turned into sugar. In a fermentation process, microbes convert sugar into lactic acid, which then creates long chains of polylactic acid polymers, which are then melt-spun into universally usable fibers. An earlier brand, LACTRON®, developed by Kanebo in Japan, has a comfortable, soft feel and is suitable for women, seniors and babies.

Properties and application of poly (Lactic Acid) fiber 

PLA fiber has a high degree of natural moisture absorption, which can improve the transmission of moisture between fabrics, so that garments have better "breathing capacity". PLA fiber also has good fire resistance, with self-extinguishing characteristics; When burned, only a small amount of smoke and heat is released. However, the melting point of PLA fiber is relatively not high, about 175°C, so the ironing method should be clearly listed on the washing water label.

The new treatment allows PLA fibers to be blended with other fibers such as cotton, viscose, and wool to produce a variety of yarns and fabrics that can be used in men's shirts, casual wear, uniforms, and nonwovens. The safety of corn fiber was confirmed by industry tests and skin allergy tests. Fabrics made from corn fibers are easy to care for and require only the most basic maintenance. Of course, there are still some problems in strength and fabric feel of PLA fiber at present, but with the development of science and technology and the adjustment of textile production process, I believe these problems will be solved soon.