Polylactide. I. Continuous dry spinning–hot drawing preparation of fibers

The mechanical properties and in vitro degradability of gamma‐rays sterilized and non‐sterlized PLLA fibers prepared by a continuous dry spinning–hot drawing process were studied in relation to the spinning solution composition. Chloroform/cyclohexane mixtures of different volume ratios were used for dissolution either purified or as polymerized (with a residual monomer) PLLA. The fibers obtained had average or poor mechanical properties and a porous structure with a pointed outer skin. No increase of the degradation rate was observed except for the fibers formed from pure chloroform with a residual monomer at a drawing temperature of 110°C. At chloroform/cyclohexane volume ratio of 6:4 the process resulted in nearly hollow fiber formation.