Polybutyrolactam (PBY) fiber: a promising biobased and biodegradable fiber fabricated by dry-jet-wet spinning

A promising bio-based and biodegradable polybutyrolactam (PBY) fiber with health care function was prepared for the first time by dry-jet-wet spinning. As-prepared PBY fibers possesses the degree of crystallization upto 45.61%, appreciable thermal stability, excellent strength upto 2.1 cN.dtex(-1), as well as good resistance to alkalis based on the results of X-ray diffraction, thermal and physical properties. The bio-degradability of PBY fibers were evaluated by the degraded behavior in soil, UV aging irradiation and seawater, showing commendable biodegradation within 100 days. The analysis of the degradation based on TGA demonstrates that the removal of oligomers preferentially occurs, and then PBY macromolecules are broken. More interestingly, pharmaceutical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is released during the degradation process, and it is beneficial to health care. As a biomass-derived and bio-degradable fiber, the sustainable PBY fiber exhibits an impressively competitive tensile strength among the existing degradable man-made fibers, showing great potential in bio-based fiber materials and health care textiles.

Automated summary

A promising bio-based and biodegradable PBY fiber with excellent physical properties and biodegradability was prepared by dry-jet-wet spinning for the first time. The fiber released pharmaceutical GABA during the degradation process, showing great potential in bio-based fiber materials and health care textiles.