High strength polylactic acid (PLA) developed by Bremen Fiber Research Institute of Germany can be used in aerospace and automotive fields
The basic material of engineering fiber is usually petroleum based polymer. Recently, according to foreign media reports, in view of the limited availability of fossil raw materials and the challenges faced by plastics, Dr. Boris Marx of the Fiber Institute Bremen is looking for biopolymer alternatives.
Biopolymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA), are made from bio-based renewable raw materials. Unlike polymers usually made from petroleum, PLA is made from lactic acid through chemical synthesis and has biodegradability. For example, commercial PLA can be processed into yarn for household textiles. However, the advantages of its practical application are not enough.
Dr. Marx said: "As part of the IGF project 'High performance PLA-Biko fiber', this is the first time that it is possible to produce PLA blends with three-dimensional composite crystal structure on the scale of a pilot plant. During the composite process, two PLA starting materials are mixed together, and its special feature is the process control of temperature. As a result, a PLA blend powder with three-dimensional composite crystal structure is formed, which can be used to manufacture yarns with higher strength and stiffness, So as to replace traditional plastics. "
Dr. Sven Oberhoffner of ITV Denkendorf Produktservice, a research and development and manufacturer of medical textile materials, said: "Because there is no PLA based product in the form of three-dimensional composite on the market at present. This PLA mixture is conducive to the development of innovative products, such as improved bone plates for the treatment of fractures."
Professor Axel S. Herrmann, head of FIBER Research Institute, said that this material is suitable for high-tech fields such as aerospace technology, medical technology or automotive engineering. This material is developed in an industrial pilot plant, so the relevant research parameters can be easily applied to industrial fields.
