Thermally degradable polymeric fibers
A thermally degradable polymeric fiber comprising a polymeric fiber matrix including a poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and a metal in the form of a compound selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal oxide, a tin salt of a mono- or di-carboxylic acid, and scandium triflate (Sc(0Tf) 3 ), where the concentration of the metal in the fiber matrix is at least 0.1 wt %.
1. A thermally degradable polymeric fiber, comprising:
a polymeric fiber matrix comprising a poly(hydroxyalkanoate); and
a metal in the polymeric fiber matrix in the form of a compound selected from the group consisting of a tin salt of a mono- or di-carboxylic acid, and scandium triflate (Sc(OTf) 3 );
where the concentration of the metal compound is at least 0.1 wt %; and
the polymeric fiber matrix has a degradation temperature of at least 180° C. and at most 250° C.
2. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 1 , where the poly(hydroxyalkanoate) comprises poly(lactic acid) (PLA).
3. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 2 , where the tin salt comprises tin(II) acetate, tin(II) oxalate, or tin(II) octoate.
4. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 3 , where the tin salt comprises tin(II) acetate or tin(II) octoate.
5. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 1 , where the polymeric fiber matrix has a degradation temperature of at most 220° C.
6. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 1 , where the concentration of the metal compound is at least 1 wt %.
7. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 6 , where the concentration of the metal compound is at least 2 wt %.
8. A woven structure comprising the thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 1 .
9. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 1 , where the tin salt comprises tin(II) acetate, tin(II) oxalate, or tin(II) octoate.
10. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 9 , where the tin salt comprises tin(II) acetate or tin(II) octoate.
11. The thermally degradable polymeric fiber of claim 1 , where the metal compound comprises scandium triflate (Sc(OTf) 3 ).
12. A method for making a thermally degradable polymeric fiber, comprising:
forming a spinning liquid comprising a poly(hydroxyalkanoate), a solvent, and a metal in the form of a compound selected from the group consisting of a tin salt of a mono- or di-carboxylic acid, and scandium triflate (Sc(OTf) 3 );
passing the spinning liquid through a spinneret to form a polymeric fiber matrix comprising the poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and the metal compound; and
drying the polymeric fiber matrix to provide a concentration of the metal compound of at least 0.1 wt %;
where the polymeric fiber matrix has a degradation temperature of at least 180° C. and at most 250° C.
13. The method of claim 12 , where the poly(hydroxyalkanoate) comprises poly(lactic acid) (PLA).
14. The method of claim 12 , where the tin salt comprises tin(II) acetate, tin(II) oxalate, or tin(II) octoate.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising cold-drawing the thermally degradable polymeric fiber.
16. A method for incorporating a metal in a thermally degradable polymeric fiber comprising a polymeric fiber matrix comprising a poly(hydroxyalkanoate), wherein the method comprises melt spinning the poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and the metal, where the metal is in the form of a compound selected from the group consisting of a tin salt of a mono- or di-carboxylic acid, and scandium triflate (Sc(OTf) 3 );
where the concentration of the metal compound is at least 0.1 wt %; and
the polymeric fiber matrix has a degradation temperature of at least 180° C. and at most 250° C.
17. The method of claim 16 , where the poly(hydroxyalkanoate) comprises poly(lactic acid) (PLA).
18. The method of claim 16 , where the tin salt comprises tin(II) acetate, tin(II) oxalate, or tin(II) octoate.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising cold-drawing the thermally degradable polymeric fiber.