| HS Code | 817396 |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Melt Flow Rate | 10-25 g/10 min at 190°C/2.16 kg |
| Melting Temperature | 165-180°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 55-60°C |
| Fiber Tenacity | 3.5 g/denier |
| Fiber Elongation | 30% |
| Fiber Modulus | 35 g/denier |
| Moisture Content | <0.05% |
| Drying Temperature | 80°C |
| Drying Time | 4 hours |
| Processing Temperature | 230-260°C |
| Renewable Carbon Content | 100% |
| Compostability | Industrially compostable |
As an accredited Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6100D Fiber-Grade Continuous Filament PLA factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Packaging consists of 25 kg moisture-barrier, foil-lined bags, palletized and shrink-wrapped, for Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6100D Fiber-Grade Continuous Filament PLA. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6100D Fiber-Grade Continuous Filament PLA, palletized and secured, is loaded into a 20′ FCL container under dry conditions. |
| Shipping | Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6100D Fiber-Grade Continuous Filament PLA ships as non-hazardous, solid resin pellets in moisture-barrier-lined bags, supersacks, or bulk containers. Transport in clean, dry vehicles at moderate temperatures. Avoid moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat. No DOT/IMDG/IATA hazardous-goods classification applies. Store sealed until use. |
| Storage | Store Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6100D Fiber-Grade Continuous Filament PLA in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep packaging tightly sealed to prevent moisture uptake. Recommended storage: 15–30°C and relative humidity below 50%. Avoid prolonged exposure above 40°C. Protect from physical damage, rotate stock first-in, first-out, and use within supplier-recommended shelf life. |
| Shelf Life | Approximately two years when stored in unopened original packaging below 50°C, protected from moisture and excessive heat. |
Melt spinning of Ingeo™ 6100D into partially oriented yarn for seamless apparel begins with desiccant drying to a residual moisture level below 250 ppm, measured by ISO 15512:2019, using a dew point of -40 °C and a residence time of 4 h at 80 °C. Single-screw extruders with 25:1 to 30:1 L/D ratios and compression ratios of 2.5:1 to 3.0:1 feed the spin pack through a static mixer and last-chance filter with 40 μm nominal retention. Spinneret temperature is held at 230 ± 5 °C; excursions above 240 °C initiate lactide regeneration and melt viscosity loss that is observable as spin line breaks at take-up speeds in the 2800-3200 m/min range. At those speeds, the resulting partially oriented yarn exhibits elongation at break of 80-120 % and tenacity of 2.0-2.6 cN/dtex when tested according to ISO 2062:2009.
For draw-textured yarn, partially oriented yarn is processed on a draw-texturing machine with a primary heater temperature of 140-160 °C, a draw ratio of 1.5:1 to 1.8:1, and a secondary heater at 110-130 °C. Spin finish is applied at 0.4-0.8 wt% of a nonionic antistatic formulation; amine-based or alkaline finishes are avoided because residual amine groups catalyze hydrolytic degradation during yarn storage and subsequent wet processing. The drawn yarn typically reaches tenacity of 3.2-4.0 cN/dtex and elongation at break of 25-40 %. Hot air shrinkage measured at 120 °C for 10 min under ISO 5077 remains in the 6-10 % range when the secondary heater is operated at the lower boundary.
Package dyeing and piece dyeing of PLA filament require dispersed dye carriers at temperatures not exceeding 110 °C because dyeing above 110 °C accelerates hydrolysis and causes filament fibrillation. The dyed fabric is assessed for color fastness to light by ISO 105-B02:2014, with typical ratings of 4-5 for medium depth shades, and for color fastness to washing by ISO 105-C06:2010. Seamless knit garments and warp-knit linings made from the filament conform to REACH 1907/2006 Annex XVII restrictions for skin-contact articles and are generally submitted for Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class II certification. Terminal products include seamless sports tops, base-layer knitwear, sock liners, and warp-knit lining fabrics.
The commercial spunbond conversion of 6100D is constrained by melt strength at high attenuation rates rather than throughput alone. On a 1.1 m wide single-beam line with a 30:1 L/D extruder, typical profile settings are 190-200 °C in the feed zone, 210-220 °C in the compression zone, and 230 °C in the metering zone, with spin beam temperature held at 230-235 °C. Moisture must remain below 250 ppm; moisture at 400 ppm has been observed on production lines to cause bubble formation at the die tip and a drop in molten filament tensile force sufficient to generate periodic drip defects. Throughput per hole is typically 0.4-0.8 g/hole/min, and cabin air pressure for filament attenuation is set between 30 kPa and 60 kPa, depending on target denier. Collection speed on the forming belt is confined to 150-400 m/min for fabric basis weights of 12-25 g/m²; above 400 m/min, filament breaks increase because the semi-crystalline structure of PLA solidifies rapidly in the 18-22 °C cross-flow quench and limits further orientation.
Thermal bonding through a heated calender is typically performed at 130-150 °C with nip pressure of 50-90 N/mm. The bond area is kept below 20 % to maintain softness; bond point temperature above 155 °C creates pinholes and web shrinkage. Tensile strength of 15 g/m² spunbond is measured according to ISO 9073-3:2018, with machine-direction values commonly between 25 N/5cm and 45 N/5cm, and elongation at break between 30 % and 60 %. Air permeability is measured by ISO 9237:1995 and is typically 2000-4000 L/m²/s at 100 Pa for the unbonded-compacted web before finishing. Published data for the specific effect of spinneret hole density on 6100D web uniformity is limited, but line trials indicate that spinneret densities above 4000 holes/m require narrower quench air temperature control at ±1.5 °C to avoid rope-like filament bundles.
Hygiene-grade spunbond made from 6100D is submitted to EU Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 REACH SVHC screening and to migration testing for sensitizing additives according to ISO 10993-5:2009 when used in prolonged skin contact. The polymer is free of intentionally added alkylphenol ethoxylates, and spin finish systems are selected to meet extractables guidance for hygiene nonwovens. Terminal products include topsheets for feminine hygiene pads, ultrathin diaper acquisition layers, and elastic ear backsheet laminate carriers.
The bulked continuous filament segment exposes two process conflicts: the low melt strength of 6100D at texturing temperatures and the abrasion resistance requirement of floor covering. On bulked continuous filament lines with 75 mm or 90 mm single-screw extruders having 30:1 L/D ratios, melt temperature is maintained at 230-240 °C through spin packs configured for 2-4 trilobal or round cross-section holes per end. Quench air at 15-20 °C solidifies the filaments before a two-stage draw on godets at ratios of 2.8:1 to 3.8:1. The drawn tow enters a hot air texturing jet at 120-140 °C with jet pressure of 7-9 bar, producing a crimp contraction of 18-25 % as read by the line's in-line optical crimp monitor. Spin finish is an ester-based formulation applied at 0.6-1.2 wt%; fluorinated soil-release finishes are applied only after carpet construction because their surface energy reduction disrupts interfilament cohesion during texturing.
Tufted and needlefelt constructions from 6100D bulked continuous filament are restricted to face weights above 600 g/m² for residential rugs and entrance mats, where the yarn's lower abrasion resistance relative to nylon 6,6 is less likely to cause early pile loss. Martindale abrasion testing to ISO 12947-2:2016 gives typical mass loss of 8-15 % after 25,000 cycles for loop-pile carpets made from 3.8:1 drawn yarn; published data for cut-pile construction is limited. Surface flammability is assessed by 16 CFR 1630, and color fastness to light is tested by ISO 105-B02:2014, with a target rating of 4 or higher for indoor applications. Terminal products include low-wear commercial carpet tiles, residential area rugs, and entrance mats where the material's moisture regain below 0.6 % reduces wet-pile odor retention.
For agricultural netting and temporary geotextile applications, 6100D is extruded into monofilament or slit tape at melt temperatures of 225-235 °C using water quench temperatures of 35-40 °C. Monofilament draw ratios are typically 4.0:1 to 6.0:1 to produce diameters of 0.18-0.35 mm, while tape lines orient film at 4.5:1 to 5.5:1 before slitting. Benzotriazole or triazine UV absorbers are compounded at 0.5-1.5 wt%; hindered amine light stabilizers are avoided because the amine moiety can accelerate hydrolytic chain scission in the PLA matrix during outdoor wet-dry cycling. Added carbon black at 2-4 wt% provides additional UV screening in black mulch and shade netting, but reduces drawability above 4 wt% due to agglomeration at the spinneret plate.
Strength retention in outdoor exposure is assessed by ISO 4892-2:2013 Weather-Ometer testing; 6100D monofilament stabilized with 1.0 wt% triazine UV absorber typically retains 70-80 % of initial tenacity after 500 h at 0.35 W/m² at 340 nm, while unstabilized filament loses more than 40 % of tenacity under the same cycle. Soil contact performance is not equivalent to industrial composting; published data for 6100D monofilament under ASTM D5988-18 soil burial is limited, and the material is not specified for permanent geotextile reinforcement. Where the finished netting is marketed as industrially compostable, the product must meet EN 13432:2000 disintegration of at least 90 % after 12 weeks in controlled composting and ecotoxicity criteria per OECD 208. Terminal products include crop support netting, shade screens, erosion-control blankets with service life below 24 months, and temporary sediment retention fabric.
Filtration-grade spunbond from 6100D is processed with a post-bonding calender at 135-150 °C under linear pressure of 70-110 N/mm to compact the web into a smooth surface suitable for pleating. Basis weights for filter support media are typically 20-80 g/m². Air permeability at 100 Pa is measured by ISO 9237:1995 and is reduced from 2500-3500 L/m²/s at 20 g/m² to 600-1200 L/m²/s at 80 g/m². Thickness is measured by ISO 9073-2:1995, and burst strength by ISO 2758:2014, with values above 120 kPa for the 80 g/m² grade.
Electrostatic charge retention is the limiting factor for 6100D in high-efficiency particulate air filtration. At relative humidity above 60 %, surface charge density on the PLA web decays to less than 30 % of its initial value within 24 h, as monitored with a TSI Model 8130A automated filter tester using NaCl aerosol at 0.3 μm mass median diameter. The material is therefore specified for mechanical filtration support and prefilter layers rather than as an electret main filter. Composite filter media incorporating 6100D spunbond as the pleat support are tested for fractional efficiency and dust holding capacity according to ISO 16890-1:2016 for general ventilation. Terminal products include pleated HVAC panel supports, air purifier prefilters, liquid filter spacers, and dust collector support layers.
Medical nonwoven lines producing spunbond/meltblown/spunbond composites use 6100D for the outer spunbond layers at basis weights of 8-15 g/m² per layer, with melt temperature at 230-235 °C and calender bonding at 130-150 °C. The resulting fabric is subjected to ISO 10993-5:2009 cytotoxicity testing and ISO 10993-10:2010 skin sensitization testing before release for medical device use. Liquid barrier performance is evaluated by AAMI PB70:2012 or EN 13795:2019, with the spunbond layers serving as the structural component rather than the barrier layer; the barrier is provided by the meltblown core. The compliance matrix for this segment is summarized in the table below.
| Assessment | Standard | Typical requirement or control range |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxicity | ISO 10993-5:2009 | Cell viability ≥70 % by elution method |
| Skin sensitization | ISO 10993-10:2010 | No sensitization response in guinea pig or local lymph node assay |
| Ethylene oxide residual | ISO 10993-7:2008 | Device-specific allowable residue limit |
| Liquid barrier | AAMI PB70:2012 / EN 13795:2019 | AAMI Level 1-4 depending on construction |
| Tensile strength | ISO 9073-3:2018 | Machine direction ≥25 N/5cm for structural layers |
Sterilization compatibility is narrower than for polypropylene. Ethylene oxide sterilization at 55 °C and 70 % relative humidity preserves fiber tensile strength within acceptable margins, but residual ethylene oxide must be controlled below the limit in ISO 10993-7:2008. Gamma irradiation at doses above 25 kGy causes measurable molecular weight loss and embrittlement; electron beam sterilization at lower doses may be used only if the fabric is tested for post-sterilization tensile retention by ISO 9073-3:2018. Steam sterilization at 121 °C is not specified because the 55-60 °C glass transition of PLA produces shrinkage and loss of dimensional stability. Terminal products include surgical gown reinforcement panels, isolation gown outer piles, drape facing layers, and inner mask liners.
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NatureWorks Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6100D is a fiber-grade poly(L-lactide) resin designed for continuous filament melt-spinning operations, including partially oriented yarn, fully drawn yarn, bulked continuous filament, and continuous filament nonwoven processes. The grade is not a general-purpose extrusion or injection-molding PLA; its molecular architecture is controlled to deliver sufficient melt strength for high-draw spinlines while maintaining a melt temperature window compatible with conventional single-screw fiber extrusion equipment. The manufacturer’s published specification data list a melt flow rate of 10–30 g/10 min at 210°C under 2.16 kg load when tested in accordance with ISO 1133-1:2022 or ASTM D1238. Density is 1.24 g/cm³ by ASTM D792. Differential scanning calorimetry per ASTM D3418 indicates a glass transition temperature of 55–60°C and a crystalline melt peak of 165–180°C.
The resin is supplied as cylindrical pellets in moisture-barrier packaging. Because PLA is hygroscopic, unconditioned pellets can equilibrate to approximately 0.3–0.5 wt% moisture at 50% RH. Melt processing requires a residual moisture content no greater than 0.025 wt% to limit hydrolytic chain scission. The material's pseudoplastic melt behavior is typical of PLA of this molecular weight class, with a power-law index broadly reported between 0.3 and 0.6 over shear rates of 10–1000 s⁻¹ at 210°C. The grade therefore requires melt-pump pressure control rather than simple extruder speed control when filament denier uniformity below ±3% is specified.
| Parameter | Test method | Typical value or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Melt flow rate | ISO 1133-1:2022 / ASTM D1238 | 10–30 g/10 min at 210°C, 2.16 kg |
| Density | ASTM D792 | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Glass transition temperature | ASTM D3418 | 55–60°C |
| Crystalline melt peak | ASTM D3418 | 165–180°C |
| Residual moisture after drying | ASTM D7191 / ISO 15512 | ≤ 0.025 wt% |
The grade is typically specified in fiber applications where renewable carbon content is audited under ASTM D6866 and where industrial composting is evaluated under ISO 17088 or EN 13432. Final fiber compliance with food-contact, medical textile, or compostability schemes is not assigned by the resin supplier; the converter must validate the finished filament structure, additives, spin finish, and thermal history against the applicable regulation or test method.
The dominant process constraint is hydrolytic degradation at melt temperature. If pellet moisture exceeds 0.025 wt% by ASTM D7191, ester linkages undergo random chain scission, producing a measurable reduction in melt viscosity, lower draw tension, and higher filament break frequency. Production lines therefore operate with a closed-loop desiccant dryer capable of supplying air at a dew point of −40°C or lower and a hopper residence time of 4–6 h at 80°C. In plants where ambient relative humidity exceeds 60%, dried resin transfer must be sealed, and surge hopper residence should not exceed 30–40 min to prevent moisture regain.
A single-screw extruder with an L/D ratio of 24:1 to 30:1 and a conventional three-zone screw is adequate. High-shear barrier screws are generally unnecessary and may generate viscous heating that accelerates lactide reformation. Barrel setpoints are commonly profiled from 180°C at the feed throat to 220–230°C in the metering section, with melt pump inlet pressure maintained between 70 bar and 120 bar to stabilize flow to the spin pack. The melt temperature at the die should not exceed 240°C for more than a few minutes. Above this threshold, color shift toward yellow and molecular weight loss become measurable in fiber tensile data. During line stops exceeding 15 min, barrel zones should be reduced to 150°C or the system purged with a transition PLA grade to avoid prolonged residence of stagnant melt.
Melt filtration at 20–40 μm is recommended upstream of the spin pack to reduce pack pressure rise and spinneret clogging. Differential pressure across the filtration media should remain below 120 bar; higher pressure drop indicates gel accumulation from degraded resin or excessive residence time. Spinneret capillary geometry should avoid abrupt entry contractions. Apparent wall shear rates above 10⁴ s⁻¹ may initiate melt fracture in PLA of this viscosity class, depending on temperature and moisture. If sharkskin or spiral surface roughness appears on as-spun filaments, the first corrective action is reduction in pack pressure, not only a temperature increase.
Additive compatibility is restricted. Alkali-metal salts, primary aromatic amines, and amine-functional slip packages should be excluded because they increase ester cleavage and lower melt stability. Silicone-based spin finishes are preferred for downstream drawing; free fatty acid or amine antistatic systems can transfer to the melt at the die and reduce tenacity.
Grade placement within the Ingeo fiber portfolio is based on melt flow rate and molecular weight. 6100D occupies the high-melt-strength continuous filament segment. Higher-melt-flow grades used for meltblown or low-denier spunbond processes show lower melt viscosity and lower spinline tension under the same ISO 1133-1:2022 conditions. The difference becomes significant at draw ratios above 3:1, where low-viscosity PLAs can exhibit neck instability, melt fracture, and uneven birefringence, while 6100D maintains a stable neck point and controlled stress-induced orientation. Compared with general-purpose extrusion PLAs used in sheet or thermoforming, 6100D has a narrower molecular weight distribution and a lower melt flow index, which raises extruder torque and head pressure on lines originally configured for high-MFR resins.
This higher viscosity also limits use in standard injection molding. Thin-wall tools with flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratios above 150:1 may short-shot unless gate and runner sizing are modified. Published data for injection-molded mechanical properties in this specific fiber grade is limited; qualification for structural injection-molded articles requires converter-specific validation under ISO 294 or ASTM D3641 conditions. The resin should not be combined with impact modifiers or plasticizers intended for petroleum-based fiber systems without first evaluating comonomer compatibility and phase dispersion.
In commercial partial orientation and full-draw lines, 6100D is processed with a melt pump between the extruder and spin pack to suppress surging and reduce denier drift. Spinneret hole diameter is typically 0.2–0.6 mm, with hole count determined by filament denier, pack pressure, and quench airflow. Crossflow quench air temperature is controlled at 20–28°C with relative humidity of 60–70%. Air velocity in the quench chamber is commonly maintained between 0.3 m/s and 0.8 m/s. Excessive quench air velocity can produce asymmetric filament orientation and occasional surface scarring, while insufficient velocity reduces supercooling and increases monofilament sticking before spin finish application.
Drawing is performed on heated godet duos. First godet temperatures are typically maintained at 60–80°C, second godet temperatures at 80–100°C, depending on drawing speed and the degree of cold crystallization induced in the first stage. Total draw ratio for fully drawn yarn falls between 2.5:1 and 4.5:1. For partially oriented yarn, as-spun filaments are collected at 2500–4500 m/min without full drawing; tension measurement at the second godet is used to control draw ratio and detect upstream viscosity drift. Spin finish is applied after quench at a metered level of 0.3–0.8 wt% on yarn to control electrostatic charge and fiber-metal friction.
Filament tensile properties after drawing are evaluated by ASTM D2256 or ISO 2062. Commercial continuous filament PLA of this molecular weight class usually exhibits tenacity in the range of 30–45 cN/tex and elongation at break between 25% and 45% after draw ratios above 3:1; exact values depend on quench uniformity, spin finish chemistry, and heat-setting temperature. Hot-air shrinkage at 150°C is commonly below 10% after relaxed heat setting on a draw stand. These tensile values are not intrinsic resin properties and must be re-established on the target production line because quench asymmetry and godet alignment directly affect orientation distribution.
Incoming resin quality control should include moisture analysis by ASTM D7191 or ISO 15512, melt flow rate by ISO 1133-1:2022, and thermal transitions by ASTM D3418. Batch-to-batch MFR variation is monitored through the certificate of analysis; a shift of ±3 g/10 min within the specification band can still require a 2–5°C adjustment of the metering zone to hold constant melt pump suction pressure. At 23°C and 50% RH, PLA fiber conditioned for 24 h typically reaches a moisture regain of 0.3–0.5 wt%, which affects tensile modulus and dimensional stability during physical testing. Conditioning prior to mechanical testing should follow ISO 139 or ASTM D1776.
Replacement of a standard extrusion PLA with 6100D on an existing continuous filament line requires rebalancing of extruder temperature, pump pressure, and quench air. Because 6100D is higher in viscosity, extruder drive amperage rises and melt pump inlet pressure may increase by 10–25% at the same screw speed. If the line is equipped with a fixed-displacement gear pump, the elevated pressure may exceed the manufacturer-set relief threshold. A variable-frequency drive with pressure feedback should be implemented before production runs. Barrel setpoints should be raised only within the 210–230°C band; higher settings may restore throughput but sacrifice melt strength and draw stability.
In bulked continuous filament operations, texturing air temperature and jet geometry are similar to those used for polypropylene, but cooling drum temperature is reduced to 60–80°C to limit premature crystallization before drawing. If cooling is insufficient, the filament may develop a skin-core morphology with a crystalline skin that resists orientation and creates bulk variation after texturing. The grade’s narrower processing window also requires closed-loop control of quench air relative humidity. At quench air relative humidity above 70%, moisture pickup in the quench cabinet can produce surface defects on the undrawn filament and increase downstream draw breaks. Plants that cannot maintain quench air humidity below 70% should add desiccant dehumidification to the quench air intake system.
6100D is not directly interchangeable with lower-viscosity PLA transition grades used for purging. Purging from a low-MFR meltblown grade to 6100D requires complete melt displacement; otherwise residual low-viscosity polymer in the extruder and spin pack can create localized low-tension zones and intermittent filament breaks. Conversely, after extended operation with 6100D, transition to a high-MFR PLA grade is less problematic but still requires a reduction in temperature before reintroducing lower-viscosity material.
