Evaluating Poly(lactic acid) Fiber Reinforcement with Modified Tannins

PLA fibers with high tannin content are prepared by melt spinning PLA with tannin acetate (TanAc) prepared from a condensed tannin. PLA with up to 50% TanAc content can be readily processed, giving melt spun fibers suitable for further processing as textile fibers or for carbonization. The PLA molecular weight profile is not impacted by blending with TanAc. Melt processing does not de-esterify the TanAc nor lead to transesterification between...