PLA - new material for non-wovens

Poly(L-Lactic Acid) (PLA) is a polymer which has great potential for use in spunbonded and other types of non-wovens. Although the polymer itself has been available for several years, its development for non-woven applications is just now occurring. One major advantage of PLA is that it is made from a renewable resource. Because it is biodegradable, it seems natural to examine its use in applications where this property may be an advantage. However, PLA has properties that also make it attractive in commodity non-wovens markets. The present paper briefly describes the source and nature of PLA. In particular the fiber forming properties of PLA are described along with the development of spunbonded non-wovens. Some discussion of potential applications is also given.