(Plasticized) Polylactide/clay nanocomposite textile: thermal, mechanical, shrinkage and fire properties

Various quantities of Cloisite® 30B (from 1% to 4% in weight) have been added to a polylactide matrix by melt blending to produce polylactide-based nanocomposites. Then, these blends have been melt-spun to produce multifilaments yarns. It is demonstrated that it is necessary to use a plasticizer to spin a blend with 4% in weight of Cloisite® 30B. The properties of these yarns have been studied (dispersion of the clay, thermal, mechanical and shrinkage properties). A decrease of the tensile properties is observed when the quantity of Cloisite® 30B increases, but an improvement of the thermal and shrinkage properties is highlighted. These multifilaments have been knitted and the flammability studied using cone calorimeter at 35 kW/m2. A strong decrease, up to 38%, of the heat release rate has been measured.