Biodegradable polyester textile

Abstract

There is provided a synthetic polymer fibre having an amorphous phase of at least 10% of the crystallinity ratio. The synthetic polymer fibre includes 0.1 to 5.0 wt. % of a biodegradation—inducing additive with respect to the total weight of the synthetic polymer fibre. The biodegradation-inducing additive is incorporated in the amorphous phase such that the biodegradation-inducing additive is physically and/or chemically accessible for a biodegradation initiation to form nuclei of biodegradation within the amorphous phase.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A synthetic polymer fibre comprising:
 an amorphous phase of at least 10% of the crystallinity ratio, and   0.1 to 5.0 wt. % of a biodegradation-inducing additive with respect to the total weight of the synthetic polymer fibre, the biodegradation-inducing additive being incorporated in the amorphous phase such that the biodegradation-inducing additive is physically and/or chemically accessible for a biodegradation initiation to form nuclei of biodegradation within the amorphous phase.   
     
     
         2 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic polymer fibre is a polyester fibre or a polyamide fibre. 
     
     
         3 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation-inducing additive is dispersed in the amorphous phase. 
     
     
         4 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic polymer fiber is made of a polymer is selected from poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate) (PBSA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(ethylene succinate) (PES), poly(l-lactic acid) (PLA), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydoxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalterate) (PHB/PHBV), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST), poly(butylene succinate/terephthalate/isophthalate)-co-(lactate) (PBSTIL), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation-inducing additive is selected from polysaccharide, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene terephthalate-coadipate, furanone, glutaric acids, carboxylic acids, or EcoPureTM G2 additive. 
     
     
         6 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation-inducing additive is a starch-based polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation-inducing additive is present in a concentration of between 0.5 to 3.0 wt % with respect to the total weight of the synthetic polymer fibre. 
     
     
         8 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic polymer fibre further comprises a carrier polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 8 , wherein the carrier polymer is selected from wool, flax, cotton, hemp, linen, cellulose, rayon, nylon, and/or silk. 
     
     
         10 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of the synthetic polymer fibre to the carrier polymer is between 1:10 to 10:1. 
     
     
         11 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , further comprising a flame retardant additive. 
     
     
         12 . The synthetic polymer fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradation-inducing additive is incorporated in the amorphous phase by physisorption. absorption or adsorption and does not form any intramolecular chemical bonds with the synthetic polymer fibre. 
     
     
         13 . A system for detecting the presence of a biodegradable-inducing additive in a synthetic polymer fibre, the system comprising:
 the synthetic polymer fibre as defined in  claim 1 ; and   a colorimetric agent for changing a color of the synthetic polymer fibre,   wherein a color change within a given spectrum range, indicates the presence or absence of the biodegradation-inducing additive in the synthetic polymer fibre.   
     
     
         14 . A method of fabricating a biodegradable synthetic fibre, comprising:
 obtaining the biodegradable synthetic fibre having an extruded synthetic polymer body;   swelling the extruded synthetic polymer body to obtain a swelled extruded synthetic polymer body having an increased surface porosity when compared to the extruded synthetic polymer body; and   incorporating a biodegradation-inducing additive into the swelled extruded synthetic polymer body, wherein the biodegradation-inducing additive penetrates pores of the surface of the swelled extruded synthetic polymer body.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein incorporating the biodegradation-inducing additive is performed in one of a jet dyeing step, a beam dyeing step, a pad application step, or an autoclave purification step. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein incorporating the biodegradation-inducing additive into the swelled extruded synthetic polymer body includes embedding the biodegradation-inducing additive in an amorphous phase of the swelled extruded synthetic polymer body. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein incorporating the biodegradation-inducing additive includes increasing a temperature of the extruded polyester body to a temperature of from 100 to 150° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the biodegradable synthetic polymer is a biodegradable polyester. 
     
     
         19 . A method of detecting whether a biodegradation-inducing additive is present in a amorphous phase of a synthetic polymer fibre, the method comprising:
 contacting a colorimetric agent with the synthetic polymer fibre; and   observing a change of color in the synthetic polymer fibre, a color change within a given spectrum range indicating the presence or absence of the biodegradation-inducing additive in the amorphous phase.