Advances in the production of poly(lactic acid) fibers. A review

Poly(lactic acid) has recently seen its development as a textile fiber. With the resin prepared from agricultural feedstock, the fiber has properties typical of a synthetic fiber, while still being fully biodegradable. This article is an attempt to review recent research developments which have taken this polymer from a specialty suture material to a commodity fiber. Various approaches for the preparation of fiber grade polymer from monomers and its conversion into textile grade filament are discussed. Both solution spinning and melt spinning technology along with physical properties of the fibers are discussed in detail.