bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0905

Fiber Applications
Melt Blown Line (Photo
Courtesy Biax-Fiberfilm)
Meltblown
PLA
Nonwovens
Two grades of NatureWorks‘ Ingeo PLA resin are now commercially available for the
production of meltblown nonwovens, fabrics widely used in such products as wipes and
filters.
“As interest grows in polymers made from renewable resources, equipment manufacturers,
process developers, and researchers have been exploring solutions that offer meltblown
nonwoven fabrics that both perform well and achieve a lower carbon footprint than the
existing petroleum-based incumbents,” said Robert Green, director of fibers and nonwovens,
NatureWorks, at the recent 2009 International Nonwovens Technical Conference (INTC) in
Denver, Colorado, USA.
Green was referring to meltblown fiber equipment manufacturer Biax-FiberFilm, Greenville,
Wisconsin, USA, which earlier this year conducted meltblown tests of Ingeo PLA. Researchers
at the University of Tennessee Nonwovens Research Lab (UTNRL) also evaluated Ingeo for its
suitability for meltblown fabric substrates using conventional meltblowing equipment.
“Our development of an Ingeo meltblown substrate significantly broadens the variety of
applications in which this material can be used,” said Doug Brown, president, Biax-FiberFilm. “An
Ingeo meltblown nonwoven offers an estimated 30 to 50 percent cost savings over conventional
fiber-based nonwoven roll goods and a significant advantage in price stability compared to
petroleum-based products.” Brown also noted that mixing the meltblown fiber with wood pulp
or viscose greatly enhanced the material’s absorption, making it suitable for a broad range of
performance wipes products.
In its development work, Biax-FiberFilm demonstrated excellent performance of two
Ingeo grades in their meltblown process. The grades 6252D and 6201D each provided broad
processing windows and quality fabrics that meet requirements for a range of applications. The
high pressure die design unique to Biax FiberFilm meltblown lines allow processing of higher
viscosity grades, such as 6201D, offering even higher fabric strength than seen on conventional
meltblowing equipment.
These recent advances provide the nonwoven market with a full range of Ingeo fabrics that
can now be produced with all major fabric forming technologies from spunmelt to conventional
carded nonwovens, offering the ability to meet consumers’ convenience needs with an annually
renewable low environmental impact material. The attached graphic shows the significant
environmental advantage Ingeo offers over conventional petroleum based products.
NatureWorks and Biax FiberFilm presented the results of this work in separate sessions at
the INTC. Also at the conference, Fiber Innovation Technologies presented a paper on thermal
bonding with Ingeo, and the University of Tennessee as well as Oklahoma University reviewed
research into Ingeo mulch fabrics and fiber production. MT
www.natureworksllc.com
www.biax-fiberfilm.com
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/09] Vol. 4