Preparation and performance study of polylactic acid-based conductive knitted fabrics

Abstract A knitted fabric based on polylactic acid (PLA) with certain conductivity was successfully prepared by combining alkali reduction treatment and carbon black (CB) impregnation. The micromorphology, mass per unit area, thickness and conductivity of the samples were tested and characterized. The effects of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration, treatment temperature and treatment time in the alkali reduction process on the structure and properties of the samples were discussed. The results show that after alkali reduction treatment, there are etched pits and holes on the surface of the fiber, and the mass per unit area and thickness decreases. After CB impregnation, a certain amount of CB is attached to the surface of the sample. The mass per unit area and the thickness increase, and the sample has a certain conductivity. The effects of different alkali reduction treatment processes on the structure and properties are not the same. According to variance analysis, the optimized alkali reduction process conditions are NaOH concentration of 4 g/L, treatment temperature of 70 °C and time of 20 min. The resistance value of the sample is 346 Ω/cm 2 . The research results provide a certain research basis for the application of PLA fabric in the preparation of green functional materials and functional clothing.