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PLA Fibers

What is PLA?

PLA is polylactic acid. It's a polymer that's been around for a while, but it's creating a lot of interest in fibers now because it has only recently been made available in commercial quantities and at prices that make it competitive as a fiber polymer. Most intriguing is that the raw material for PLA is corn or other starchy plants, rather than crude oil. So PLA is not just compostable, but since it comes from a renewable resource, it is more sustainable than any other synthetic melt-extrudable fiber polymer. Add to this its surprisingly strong collection of properties, and it becomes apparent why PLA is such an interesting fiber polymer.

Key Benefits of PLA

	PLA is less dense than PET so it offers greater bulk and cover.
	PLA has a lower refractive index than any other conventional fiber polymer, so it can be dyed to deeper and brighter shades.
	PLA is highly resistant to UV degradation.
	PLA is highly resilient -- comparable to nylon.
	PLA fibers burn less readily than fibers made of PET, PP, nylon, etc., and release less heat and smoke if/when they do burn.
	PLA is inherently more hydrophilic than conventional melt-extruded fibers, and has shown superior comfort performance to PET in fabrics.
	PLA comes, as mentioned above, from a renewable resource and is compostable, making it the most sustainable melt-extruded fiber available.
	Despite its compostability, PLA is durable in most apparel applications. It will not degrade simply because it gets wet or in conventional laundering.

Typical Fiber Characteristics

PLA

PET

Specific gravity

1.25

1.38

Melt point ºC/ºF

165/329

250/480

Tenacity (grams/denier)

2.5-5.0

4.5

Elongation (% at break)

50-60

Heat of combustion (MJ/kg)

25-30

LOI

26-35

20-22

Refractive index

1.35-1.45

1.54

Contact angle (º)

You can learn more by downloading our paper about PLA fibers.