| HS Code | 375616 |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Specific Gravity | 1.24 |
| Melt Flow Rate | 15 g/10 min (210°C, 2.16 kg) |
| Melting Temperature | 165°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 55°C |
| Crystallization Temperature | 100°C |
| Tensile Strength | 50 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 3.5 GPa |
| Elongation At Break | 3.5% |
| Flexural Modulus | 3.8 GPa |
| Notched Izod Impact | 16 J/m |
| Heat Deflection Temperature | 55°C at 0.455 MPa |
| Vicat Softening Point | 55°C |
| Processing Temperature | 200-240°C |
| Drying Temperature | 80°C |
| Drying Time | 4 hours |
| Moisture Content | <0.025% |
| Biobased Carbon Content | 100% |
| Compostability | Industrial compostable |
| Food Contact Status | FDA compliant |
As an accredited Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6201D Staple Fiber/Continuous Filament PLA factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6201D is supplied in 25 kg polyethylene-lined bags, palletized and stretch-wrapped, with 1000 kg bulk bags available. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Container Loading (20′ FCL): Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6201D PLA staple fiber/continuous filament loads dry, palletized, protected from moisture, at ambient temperature. |
| Shipping | Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6201D Staple Fiber/Continuous Filament PLA ships as non-hazardous solid resin pellets in moisture-barrier bags, octabins, or bulk containers. It is not DOT/IMDG/IATA regulated. Transport in clean, dry vehicles; avoid heat, moisture, and contamination. Store sealed in cool, dry conditions. |
| Storage | Store Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6201D Staple Fiber/Continuous Filament PLA in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Keep containers closed and protect from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, sparks, and flames. Avoid strong oxidizers. Maintain storage below 50°C (122°F) and control humidity to prevent hydrolysis. Use grounding/bonding to prevent static discharge. Keep clean and segregate from incompatible materials. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 12 months if stored cool, dry, and sealed in original packaging; avoid moisture, heat, and sunlight. |
Spunbond nonwoven coverstock produced from Ingeo 6201D is subject to a narrow melt-temperature band between 215°C and 230°C at the die. On single-beam lines equipped with 30:1 L/D single-screw extruders and positive-displacement melt pumps, the primary manufacturing defect is periodic cross-direction basis-weight banding caused by melt draw resonance when filament draw ratio exceeds 3.0:1 and quench-air temperature falls below 15°C. The resonance creates non-uniform web opacity and complicates compliance with EDANA/INDA NWSP 120.1.R0 mass-per-unit-area variation limits. Production-scale behaviour on 600 mm die systems indicates that increasing slot-draw pressure above 40 kPa without simultaneously raising melt temperature increases resonance amplitude, whereas lowering calender speed does not correct the instability once hot-draw tension has separated the filaments from uniform attenuation.
Before extrusion, 6201D pellets are dried for 4 h at 80°C in a desiccant dryer with a dew point of −40°C, targeting residual moisture below 250 ppm. The melt flow rate is characterised by ISO 1133-1:2022 at 210°C/2.16 kg, and pellet density by ASTM D792 is 1.24 g/cm³, which is entered into melt-pump displacement calculations. The spinneret is fitted with holes of 0.30–0.50 mm diameter, and the web is consolidated on heated embossing calenders with roll surface temperatures of 130–150°C and nip pressures of 60–90 N/mm. The hopper formulation is 98.0–99.5 wt% 6201D with 0.5–2.0 wt% PLA-compatible titanium dioxide or processing-aid masterbatch. The masterbatch carrier must remain compostable under EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 where the finished web carries an industrial compostability claim. Compliance anchors for hygiene coverstock are ISO 9073-3 for tensile strength, ISO 9073-2 for thickness, REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 product class I for skin-contact articles. Single-use nonwoven medical garments require additional biocompatibility screening under ISO 10993-5. Finished articles in this segment are diaper topsheets, acquisition layers, feminine hygiene coverstock, surgical drape reinforcement, and compostable single-use medical wrap. The substitution of 6201D for polypropylene spunbond is process-limited by the narrower thermal window and by rapid melt viscosity increase if residence time at 230°C becomes prolonged; hydrolytic degradation then reduces web tensile integrity at the embossing nip.
Hydroentanglement lines running 38–51 mm staple cut from 6201D do not tolerate the same injector-pressure ceiling as polyester or viscose feedstocks. The production route for compostable wipes uses carding and crosslapping followed by hydroentanglement with 3–5 injectors at 50–100 bar and through-air drying at 105–120°C. Wet web temperature above 35°C in the injector section lowers PLA fibre modulus and increases the risk of staple fibre entanglement around the perforated sleeve; industrial high-speed lines therefore interleave injector pressure and cooling rather than using a monotonic pressure profile. Carding feed formulation is 80–100 wt% 6201D staple fibre and 0–20 wt% viscose or lyocell. Cellulosic addition above 30 wt% depresses wet strength and raises hydroentanglement energy demand beyond the operating window of standard lines without a synthetic binder.
Compliance for wipe nonwovens uses EN 13432 as the reference for industrial compostability, with aerobic biodegradation measured by ISO 14855-1 and disintegration by ISO 16929. Physical performance is assessed by ISO 9073-3 for tensile strength and ISO 9073-4 for tear resistance. Skin-contact wet wipes fall under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 product class I, and the EU inventory must satisfy REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. Converted goods include cosmetic face wipes, household compostable surface wipes, and industrial cleanroom wipe substrates. Cleanroom grades require additional particle-release testing; published data for this specific 6201D cleanroom configuration is limited, so qualification is conducted per individual line validation rather than by generic transfer of published performance.
Continuous filament textile operations melt-spin 6201D at 215–230°C, draw at ratios between 3.0:1 and 4.0:1 over heated draw rolls set to 80–100°C, and then knit on 28-gauge single-jersey circular machines. The pre-heat drawing step increases crystallinity and improves dimensional stability, but roll-temperature variation exceeding ±5°C produces non-uniform disperse-dye uptake. In weft-knit jersey, the formulation is 60–70 wt% 6201D filament with 30–40 wt% cotton or viscose in yarn counts of Ne 20–40. Raising 6201D above 70 wt% increases pilling and lowers moisture regain below the level required for skin comfort; lowering it below 60 wt% shifts wet shrinkage and edge curl toward the cellulosic component, requiring higher finishing tension and reducing the advantage of the PLA fibre in dimensional control.
Yarn tensile properties are tested by ASTM D2256, fabric dimensional stability by ISO 6330, colourfastness to domestic laundering by ISO 105-C06, and skin-contact garments under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 product class II. EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII applies to azo-dye restrictions. Dyeing is performed with disperse dyes at 100–110°C; the bath temperature must not exceed 120°C because hydrolysis of PLA accelerates and reduces bursting strength. Heat setting for width control is carried out at 120–130°C for 30–60 s. The knits are converted into T-shirts, sportswear, and underwear. Flat-knitted trims and rib structures from the same filament are subject to tighter tension control because edge curl and stitch distortion become visible defects after piece dyeing.
In carded fibrefill batt operations, residual moisture above 250 ppm in 6201D staple fibre translates directly into loft loss after through-air bonding. The fill material is evaluated under ISO 12952-1 for bedding ignition resistance and under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 product class I for skin-contact articles. Batt formulation is 100 wt% siliconized 6201D staple fibre, optionally blended with 10–20 wt% PLA-based low-melt binder fibre for thermal bonding. Processing consists of opening, carding, crosslapping, through-air bonding at 130–150°C, and cold calendering to stabilise loft. Pillow inserts, mattress toppers, and duvet fill are produced from the bonded batt. Process control at the card is limited by the fibre’s low bending rigidity; high carding speeds above 120 m/min increase nep formation and require cylinder-to-taker-in speed adjustment to restore web evenness.
Dry-laid filtration media from 6201D staple fibre are produced in carded needlepunched or spunbond forms. The material is not a drop-in substitute for polypropylene meltblown in HEPA or FFP2 high-efficiency layers because the melt viscosity of 6201D is not optimised for meltblown microfibre formation; it is therefore specified for prefilter and support-layer functions. For respirator coverweb and prefilter applications, performance is assessed under EN 149:2001+A1:2009 for FFP masks, EN 14683:2019 for medical face masks, or 42 CFR Part 84 for N-series respirator components, depending on the final article. Nonwoven structural properties are tested by ISO 9073-2 and ISO 9073-3. For HVAC prefilter panels, ISO 16890 classification applies; published data for 6201D in high-efficiency ePM1 configurations are limited, so the application boundary is set at ePM10 prefilter classes rather than high-efficiency ePM1 classes.
Formulation is 50–100 wt% 6201D staple fibre with 0–20 wt% bicomponent binder fibre. Needlepunched web formation uses barb depths of 0.25–0.40 mm and punch densities of 120–200 punches/cm². Electrostatic charging by corona generates initial surface potential, but charge decay accelerates above 60% RH; therefore pleating and pleat-setting temperatures are kept below 80°C to avoid thermally stimulated discharge and PLA crystallisation-induced shrinkage. HVAC prefilter panels, face mask coverwebs, vacuum bag inner layers, and cabin air filter support media are the terminal forms. The operational boundary is dictated by humidity-driven discharge and hydrolysis, not by fibre tensile failure, which means accelerated screening at 80% RH is required before specification for tropical or high-moisture air streams.
A 300–500 g/m² needlepunched mat from 6201D staple fibre is placed in soil contact as a biodegradable weed barrier only where seasonal replacement is acceptable. Soil biodegradation is evaluated under ISO 17556; if the article is claimed as compostable after removal, EN 13432 applies. The formulation is 100 wt% 6201D staple fibre without synthetic latex binder, because binder residues inhibit soil-degradation test endpoints. Processing employs carding, crosslapping, needlepunching, and low-pressure thermal calendering at 120–130°C to densify the mat. The mat is converted into weed control mats, seed blankets, and erosion control netting. This segment is limited to low-tensile geotextile functions because long-term wet-soil strength loss is an inherent property boundary of PLA fibre in unsealed soil-contact applications.
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Ingeo™ Biopolymer 6201D is a polylactide (PLA) thermoplastic resin supplied by NatureWorks LLC and positioned specifically for melt-spun staple fiber and continuous filament operations. The grade designation 6201D separates a fiber-grade rheology profile from other Ingeo resins used in injection molding, thermoforming, film extrusion, and blow molding. Typical values published in supplier trade literature place the specific gravity at 1.24 when tested under ASTM D792 and the melt flow rate at 15–30 g/10 min under ASTM D1238 at 210 °C with a 2.16 kg load. Thermal characterization by differential scanning calorimetry commonly reports a peak melt temperature between 160 °C and 170 °C and a glass transition temperature between 55 °C and 60 °C under ASTM D3418. These values are typical lot data rather than absolute product specifications; the applicable certificate of analysis governs each batch.
| Property | Test method | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Specific gravity | ASTM D792 | 1.24 |
| Melt flow rate | ASTM D1238, 210 °C / 2.16 kg | 15–30 g/10 min |
| Peak melt temperature | ASTM D3418 | 160–170 °C |
| Glass transition temperature | ASTM D3418 | 55–60 °C |
| Maximum recommended moisture after drying | Karl Fischer titration | <0.025 wt% |
Pellet drying is a mandatory processing step, not a recommendation. At ambient relative humidity above 60%, pellet moisture can reach levels that measurably accelerate melt hydrolysis within hours. A desiccant-wheel dryer with a dew point of -40 °C or lower and an inlet air temperature of 80 °C for at least 4 h is commonly specified to reduce moisture to 0.025 wt% (250 ppm) or less before the resin reaches the extruder throat. Drying air above 100 °C risks pellet surface softening and hopper bridging, particularly in humid production halls. Processors on high-speed staple lines often add a vacuum receiver or aftercooler at the hopper to stabilize pellet feed temperature. If the resin is processed above the moisture limit, hydrolytic chain scission lowers intrinsic viscosity, raises melt flow rate, and reduces spinline stability. Filament breaks, void defects, spatter at the die, and lower tenacity in drawn fiber are frequent consequences observed on manufacturing lines.
Spin finish chemistry is a separate but equally important variable. PLA has lower surface energy and different tribological behavior than polyester, so polyester-compatible finishes cannot be assumed to transfer directly. Unvalidated finish combinations can cause dripping on draw rolls, uneven crimp, high fiber-to-metal friction, or excessive fly in carding. On production lines, finish pump speed and concentration are adjusted to control finish-on-fiber level, commonly below 0.5 wt%, but the exact target is set by downstream carding, yarn spinning, or nonwoven bonding requirements rather than by the resin itself.
The extruder specification for 6201D does not require a dedicated PLA screw, but certain design boundaries are established from production experience. General-purpose polyolefin screws with a length-to-diameter ratio of 24:1 to 36:1 and a compression ratio between 2.5:1 and 3.0:1 are used in staple fiber and continuous filament lines. Barrel temperatures typically range from 190 °C in the feed zone to 225–235 °C in the metering zone, giving a die melt temperature of 210–240 °C. Melt temperatures below 200 °C can raise extruder pressure and reduce throughput, particularly when a spinneret pack contains fine filtration media. Sustained melt temperatures above 240 °C accelerate thermal degradation, lactide formation, and viscosity loss. The spin pack should be fitted with breaker plates and filter media in the 20–40 µm range to remove gels and foreign inclusions before the spinneret. A blinded filter changes residence time and can initiate degradation; pressure alarms are therefore set to signal increasing filter blockage before it affects filament uniformity.
Spinneret capillary diameter and hole count are determined by target fiber decitex, total throughput, and quench capacity. Typical staple spinnerets use capillary diameters from 0.25 mm to 0.60 mm, while continuous filament spinnerets may use smaller capillaries and tighter hole spacing. Laminar side-blown quench air between 20 °C and 35 °C with relative humidity of 50–70% is applied to cool the extrudate. Asymmetric quench airflow produces oval filaments, denier variability, and periodic spin breaks. The air gap between spinneret face and quench start must be stable across all positions because PLA melt strength is lower than polypropylene at equivalent melt flow rate, and spinline draw resonance is a known failure mode when the draw-down ratio is not balanced against quench and take-up speed.
Under ISO 1133-1 melt flow testing, the melt flow rate is a shear-based index and does not fully predict fiber spinning behavior. Elongational viscosity and melt strength are more relevant. The grade is formulated so that spinline tension remains stable across typical draw-down ratios, but the practical critical draw ratio for a given spinneret configuration must be determined on the target line. Published data for the exact critical draw ratio of this specific formulation are limited.
In staple fiber production, the cooled tow is conditioned with spin finish, then drawn over heated godets or draw stands. Draw ratios commonly fall between 2.0:1 and 4.0:1 at roll temperatures from 70 °C to 100 °C. Drawing imparts molecular orientation and induces strain-induced crystallization, which is the principal route to tensile properties in PLA because quiescent crystallization is slow. Drawn tow is crimped, heat-set, and cut to staple lengths required by downstream carding and nonwoven or yarn systems. Crimp stability depends on heat-setting temperature and dwell; insufficient heat-setting produces high residual shrinkage, while excessive heat can reduce bulk recovery and create a brittle hand.
Continuous filament configurations include partially oriented yarn and fully drawn yarn routes. Partially oriented yarn is wound at speeds that apply spinline draw-down, while fully drawn yarn adds in-line drawing and annealing after extrusion. Denier per filament is controlled by throughput per hole and take-up speed; apparel and technical yarns are frequently produced in the 1.5–6.0 dpf range, though the range is not a grade limitation. For continuous filament, take-up speed and draw ratio are adjusted to maintain elongation at break and boiling water shrinkage within customer specifications. Because PLA has a lower glass transition temperature than polyester, hot-wet dimensional stability of finished yarns is a stricter control point unless annealing is applied during drawing.
PLA degradation proceeds through combined thermal and hydrolytic pathways. In the melt, chain scission is accelerated by residual moisture, high temperature, and prolonged residence time. The practical die-melt ceiling for 6201D is 240 °C; short excursions above this value may be used to clear a partially blocked spinneret, but prolonged hold at 250 °C can generate lactide vapors and reduce molecular weight. The extruder should be purged with a low-viscosity polyolefin or a designated PLA purge grade during shutdown to prevent crystallized PLA from remaining in dead zones. Although the general thermal degradation behavior of PLA is well characterized, published kinetic data specific to the 6201D stabilizer package are limited; converters should establish lot-specific residence-time limits using controlled extrusion trials.
Color concentrates and additive masterbatches used with 6201D must use a PLA-compatible carrier. Masterbatches based on polyethylene or polypropylene produce immiscible domains that disrupt spinline continuity. Carrier resins with a melt flow rate close to or higher than the base resin are preferred. Additive packages containing primary amines or strong bases are not recommended because they accelerate PLA hydrolysis and can generate color during melt processing. Titanium dioxide and selected organic pigments are accepted when pre-dried to the same moisture specification as the resin.
Crystallization behavior also governs fiber formation. The maximum crystal growth rate of PLA occurs near 100–110 °C; therefore, the quench system must cool filaments through this temperature window quickly, or premature crystallization can reduce drawability and increase broken filaments during drawing. After drawing, annealing at controlled temperatures increases crystallinity and reduces shrinkage. Over-annealing, however, can increase stiffness beyond target fiber hand, particularly in hygiene and fiberfill applications where softness is a defined quality criterion.
Compared with polypropylene staple, 6201D has a narrower processing window and a lower continuous-use thermal limit. Its higher melt polarity also affects spin finish selection and oil pick-up. Compared with polyester staple, PLA has a lower glass transition and a lower melting point, which changes the melt processing energy input but also reduces thermal resistance in finished articles. Within the Ingeo portfolio, fiber grades are differentiated by melt flow rate, optical purity, and additive package. 6201D is selected when the converter requires balanced drawability and spinline stability for staple fiber and continuous filament; it is not formulated as a low-melting bonding fiber, a nucleated injection molding resin, or a high-crystallinity engineering grade. In bicomponent fiber applications, a lower-melting PLA or PLA copolymer may serve as the sheath, with 6201D used as the core when core strength and orientation are the primary requirements.
Compliance status depends on the finished article and the regulatory region. The base resin is subject to the supplier’s REACH registration in the European Union, but downstream formulations, finishes, and colorants may create separate registration or notification duties. When fiber is specified for food-contact packaging, the current supplier compliance statement and any relevant positive-list authorization under Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 must be confirmed for the exact additive and processing aids. Industrial compostability claims for finished articles are assessed under EN 13432 or ASTM D6400, not on the raw resin alone. Electrical and electronic equipment applications may require verification under RoHS recast Directive 2011/65/EU. No medical-grade status should be inferred without ISO 10993 evaluation of the final device after sterilization validation.
Commercial fiber uses for 6201D include carded staple nonwovens for hygiene topsheets and acquisition layers, thermally bonded needlepunched fabrics, fiberfill for bedding and furniture, ring-spun and rotor-spun yarns, and filtration media produced from carded webs. In calender-bonded nonwovens, the narrow melting range of PLA requires precise roll temperature control; bonding windows are often 10–15 °C wide, and roll surface uniformity across the full working width is critical. In hygiene conversion lines, fiber crimp and cut length are adjusted to match carding speeds, and static control is required because PLA tends to accumulate electrostatic charge under dry conditions. The product is also used in industrial wipes where thermal bonding is followed by adhesive or mechanical finishing. Each downstream specification—cut length, crimps per centimeter, finish type, and color—must be established with the supplier’s technical service group and verified by trial on the target line.
