Nonwoven fabrics having a plurality of fibers that are bonded to each other to form a coherent web, wherein the fibers comprise a blend of a polylactic acid (PLA) and at least one secondary alkane sulfonate are provided. The nonwoven fabrics exhibit increased tensile strengths, elongation and toughness.

A process for producing a polymer strand involves: inserting a nucleation element into a pre-strand composition, the pre-strand composition comprising a polymer mixed with a solvent, the polymer having a concentration in the pre-strand composition that is greater than or equal to an overlap concentration (c*) of the polymer in the pre-strand composition; and, withdrawing the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition so that a strand comprising the polymer is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition, the nucleation element being withdrawn at a rate such that a pull time (τ.sub.pull) of the nucleation element is less than reptation time (τ.sub.rep) required to relax polymer entanglements in the pre-strand composition, thereby inducing a viscoelastic response in the pre-strand composition as the strand is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition.

Nonwoven fabrics having a plurality of fibers that are bonded to each other to form a coherent web, wherein the fibers comprise a blend of a polylactic acid (PLA) and at least one secondary alkane sulfonate are provided. The nonwoven fabrics exhibit increased tensile strengths, elongation and toughness.

Nonwoven fabrics having a plurality of fibers that are bonded to each other to form a coherent web, wherein the fibers comprise a blend of a polylactic acid (PLA) and at least one secondary alkane sulfonate are provided. The nonwoven fabrics exhibit increased tensile strengths, elongation and toughness.

A method of producing polymer fibers and/or particles by direct polymerization of monomers without use of any external high energy sources (such as heat or UV) is described. The method may be used to fabricate polymer fibers, fiber mats, 3D polymer fiber structures, and polymer nano- and microparticles. Polymer fibers may be used to create fiber mats which can be utilized in a variety of applications.

A method of producing polymer fibers and/or particles by direct polymerization of monomers without use of any external high energy sources (such as heat or UV) is described. The method may be used to fabricate polymer fibers, fiber mats, 3D polymer fiber structures, and polymer nano- and microparticles. Polymer fibers may be used to create fiber mats which can be utilized in a variety of applications.

The present disclosure relates to a fiber for manufacturing a stretchable hydrophobic fiber article, the fiber including silica nanoparticles which are surface-modified such that the silica nanoparticles include a hydrocarbon chain, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, a stretchable hydrophobic fiber article manufactured therefrom, and a manufacturing method thereof. A fiber and a fiber article according to the present disclosure may have high hydrophobicity, preferably both superhydrophobicity and elasticity. Further, as the fiber and fiber article have excellent mechanical stability and chemical durability, the fiber and fiber article may stably exhibit the aforementioned high hydrophobicity and elasticity even under the harsh conditions.

The present disclosure relates to a fiber for manufacturing a stretchable hydrophobic fiber article, the fiber including silica nanoparticles which are surface-modified such that the silica nanoparticles include a hydrocarbon chain, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, a stretchable hydrophobic fiber article manufactured therefrom, and a manufacturing method thereof. A fiber and a fiber article according to the present disclosure may have high hydrophobicity, preferably both superhydrophobicity and elasticity. Further, as the fiber and fiber article have excellent mechanical stability and chemical durability, the fiber and fiber article may stably exhibit the aforementioned high hydrophobicity and elasticity even under the harsh conditions.

Nonwoven fabrics having a plurality of fibers that are bonded to each other to form a coherent web, wherein the fibers comprise a blend of a polylactic acid (PLA) and at least one secondary alkane sulfonate are provided. The nonwoven fabrics exhibit increased tensile strengths, elongation and toughness.

Nonwoven fabrics having a plurality of fibers that are bonded to each other to form a coherent web, wherein the fibers comprise a blend of a polylactic acid (PLA) and at least one secondary alkane sulfonate are provided. The nonwoven fabrics exhibit increased tensile strengths, elongation and toughness.