Biodegradable fibers of poly(L‐lactide) produced by high‐speed melt spinning and spin drawing

A polylactide (PLA type LA 0200 K) was spun in high-speed melt spinning and spin drawing processes. The fibers were characterized with regard to the degree of crystallinity, the orientation, and the textile physical properties. The polymer was produced by a reactive extrusion polymerization process, and its hydrolytic degradation during the processes of drying and spinning and its thermal and rheological properties were characterized. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 2785–2797, 1999