DEGRADABLE POLYMER FIBERS; PREPERATION; PRODUCT; AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

The present invention relates to a fibrous material which includes a plurality of polylactide containing fibers. The plurality of polylactide containing fibers can be considered low shrinkage or high shrinkage. The plurality of polylactide containing fibers are considered low shrinkage fibers if they provide a boiling water shrinkage propensity of less than about 20 %. The plurality of polylactide containing fibers are considered high shrink fibers if they provide an average fiber boiling water shrinkage propensity of greater than about 10 % and a heat of fusion of less than about 25 J/g. The invention additionally relates to the use of an extrusion process to provide low shrinkage fibers and high shrinkage fibers. The invention futher relates to the use of these fibers in desirable products.