Production and Optimization of ALT TEX's PLA Based Biodegradable Textile

预计到2050年，时尚行业将占全球温室气体排放量的四分之一，自2016年以来，可持续时尚行业的增长率超过450%。由于可持续材料解决方案有限，目前广泛采用的解决方案再生聚酯由于缺乏可回收性和对微塑料污染的贡献而面临“绿色清洗”的反弹。此外，一家名为NatureWorks的公司试图使用PLA创造一种更可持续的替代品。通过调整聚合过程中丙交酯异构体的比例（D与L-丙交酯），可生成分子量和结晶度可变的PLA。虽然这改善了PLA的热加工性能，但行业采用率很低，因为单独使用这一工艺并不能显著改善服装生命周期所需的耐久性和机械性能。 总部位于多伦多的ALT TEX公司是一家B2B生物材料公司，为具有环保意识的时尚零售商提供可持续面料解决方案。该公司通过闭环模式运营，采购有机和可回收的原料，用于转化为合成和天然服装长丝和纤维。这些长丝随后被制造成可生物降解和碳中性的高品质服装级面料，以弥补时尚行业的巨大生态足迹。 通过添加生物添加剂和纳米复合材料的新型组合，该项目旨在通过提高PLA的耐热性和物理降解性来优化PLA在服装制造中的应用-这些特性迄今为止使聚合物不适合纺织品应用。通过兰顿学院的制造创新中心和ALT TEX之间的合作，该项目旨在测试拟议添加剂的各种比例，以优化和生产服装级PLA颗粒（由预先购买的PLA改性），随后可以制成织物。该研究预计将支持ALT TEX价值70亿美元的可持续合成纤维生产线的产品开发，预计将在未来2年内推出，同时扩大加拿大的可持续化学产品组合。

With the fashion industry projected to account for a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the sustainable fashion sector has witnessed over 450% growth since 2016. With limited sustainable material solutions, the current widely adopted solution, recycled polyester, is facing "greenwashing" backlash due to its lack of recyclability and contribution to microplastic pollution. Furthermore, one company, NatureWorks, has attempted to create a more sustainable alternative using PLA. By adjusting the ratio of lactide isomers within the polymerization process (D vs L-Lactide), the PLA is created with variable molecular weights and crystallinity. While this improves PLA's heat processability, industry adoption has been poor as this process alone does not significantly improve the durability and mechanical properties required for apparel lifecycle. Toronto-based ALT TEX Inc. is a business-to-business biomaterials company, creating sustainable fabric solutions for eco-conscious fashion retailers. The company operates through a closed-loop model, sourcing organic and recyclable feedstock for conversion into synthetic and natural apparel filaments and fibres. These filaments are subsequently manufactured into high-quality apparel-grade fabrics that are biodegradable and carbon neutral, to remedy the substantial ecological footprint of the fashion industry. Through the addition of a novel combination of bio-additives and nanocomposites, this project aims to optimize PLA for apparel manufacturing by improving its resistance to thermal and physical degradation - properties that have thus far rendered the polymer unsuitable for textile applications. Through the collaboration between Lambton College's Manufacturing Innovation Centre and ALT TEX, this project aims to test various ratios of the proposed additives to optimize and produce apparel-grade PLA pellets (modified from pre-purchased PLA) which can be subsequently manufactured into fabric. The research is expected to support product development for ALT TEX's $7 billion sustainable synthetic fabric line, expected to launch with the next 2 years, while growing Canada's sustainable chemistry portfolio.