Resorbable materials of poly(L‐lactide). II. Fibers spun from solutions of poly(L‐lactide) in good solvents

Fibers of poly( L ‐lactide) (PLLA) with a tensile strength up to 1.2 GPa and Young's modulus in the range of 12–15 GPA were obtained by a hot drawing of fibers spun from solution of PLLA in good solvents such as dichloromethane and trichloromethane. The tensile strength of fibers was strongly dependent on the molecular weight of PLLA and on polymer concentrations in the spinning solution. Changing of the polymer concentration in the spinning solution gives rise to formation of fibers with different shape and porosity. Fibers spun from 10–20% solutions at room temperature exhibit a regular structurization, due to the melt fracture. These fibers had knot strengths up to 0.6 GPa, whereas fibers with a smooth surface spun from more dilute solutions had weaker square knots up to 0.3 GPa.