Recycling and Melt-Blown Forming of Polylactic Acid KN95 Mask Scraps 


Vol. 27,  No. 4, pp. 1669-1677, Apr.  2026
10.1007/s12221-026-01330-x


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  Abstract

In order to achieve efficient and low-cost recycling of clean edge scraps during the processing of polylactic acid (PLA) KN95 masks, the physical recycling technology was used to prepare recycled polylactic acid (RPLA) by melt extrusion using PLA KN95 mask edge scraps as raw materials. After melt blending with PLA masterbatch and granulation, RPLA/PLA melt-blown materials with different proportions were prepared by melt-blown process. The thermal–crystallization properties, thermal stability and rheological properties of RPLA/PLA blends, as well as the morphology, pore size distribution, and mechanical properties of melt-blown materials were studied. The results show that the molecular chain of RPLA is broken due to multiple processing, the melting point is reduced, the melt flow index is significantly increased, and the fiber diameter distribution is widened, and the adhesion is serious. After adding PLA, the material properties were significantly improved: MFI and rheological tests showed that PLA could compensate the molecular weight loss of RPLA and improve the processing stability; when the PLA ratio reaches 50%, the fiber diameter distribution is more uniform and the pore size is significantly optimized. The mechanical properties of the melt-blown materials were effectively restored. The peak stress of the RPLA/PLA (50/50) melt-blown material was 147.4% higher than that of the RPLA melt-blown material, reaching 86% of the peak stress of the PLA melt-blown material. The research provides an effective strategy for the recycling of PLA KN95 mask edge scraps.

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  Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

J. Zhou, C. Li, Y. Li, Y. Zhu, F. Zhu, "Recycling and Melt-Blown Forming of Polylactic Acid KN95 Mask Scraps," Fibers and Polymers, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 1669-1677, 2026. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-026-01330-x.

[ACM Style]

Jiawei Zhou, Chengjian Li, Yongrui Li, Yinchao Zhu, and Feichao Zhu. 2026. Recycling and Melt-Blown Forming of Polylactic Acid KN95 Mask Scraps. Fibers and Polymers, 27, 4, (2026), 1669-1677. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-026-01330-x.

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