Abstract
<b>Hydrolysis degradation of a set of drawn poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers was
induced by an accelerated weathering test, radiating ultraviolet (UV) light
under a certain temperature and humidity. The fine features of the transient
behavior of the PLA fibers were captured by near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral
imaging. The PLA fibers showed a gradual decrease in mechanical property (e.g.,
tensile strength), indicating hydrolysis degradation. Thus, the detailed
analysis of the spectral variation, in turn, offers useful information on the
molecular-level degradation behavior of the drawn PLA fibers. The variation of
the spectral intensity as well as band position shift of the crystalline band of
PLA was analyzed. The spectral intensity of the crystalline band of PLA showed
gradual decrease, suggesting the decrease in molecular weight induced by the
hydrolysis degradation. In addition, the crystalline band also exhibited a
coinciding shift to the lower wavenumber direction with the weathering test,
revealing cleavage-induced crystallization of the PLA samples. Consequently, the
hydrolysis degradation induced by the weathering test substantially accelerates
predominant degradation of the amorphous structure of the PLA and such variation
of the molecular structure, in turn, brings less ductility to the PLA
fiber.</b>
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