Degradable polymer fibers; preparation product; and, methods of use

A multicomponent fiber comprising a first component and a second component,

• said first component comprising polylactide composition containing polylactide having less than about 5 wt. % R-lactic acid residues, a lactide concentration of less than about 0.5 wt. %, and a number average molecular weight of between about 25,000 and about 150,000;
• wherein said multicomponent fiber being prepared by spunbonding the polylactide composition at a fiber velocity of at least about 1,000 m/min., a throughput of between about 0.3 and about 3 g/min/capillary, and a temperature of between about 200° C. and about 250° C. and are deposited as a web.

A method for preparing low shrink polylactide containing fibers, the method comprising a step of:

• (a) spunbonding a polylactide composition at a fiber velocity of at least about 1,000 m/min., a throughput of between about 0.3 and about 3 g/min/capillary, and a temperature of between about 200° C. and about 250° C. to provide a plurality of polylactide containing fibers exhibiting a crystallinity of greater than 20 J/g, a tenacity of greater than 1.5 grams/denier, and an average fiber boiling water shrinkage propensity of less than about 15%;
• wherein said polylactide composition comprises polylactide containing less than about 3 wt. % R-lactic acid residues, a lactide concentration of less than about 0.5 wt. %, and having a number average molecular weight of between about 25,000 and about 150,000;
• (b) depositing the plurality of polylactide containing fibers as a web.