Nonetheless, strain induced chain orientation due to melt spinning led to PLLA fibres with enhanced tensile modulus (6 GPa) and strength (127 MPa), over monolithic PLLA, previously measured at 1.3 GPa and 61 MPa, respectively. The presence of BC also enhanced the nucleation and growth of crystals in PLA. We further produced PLA fibres with 7 wt.% cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which is higher than the percolation threshold (equivalent to
6 vol.%). These fibres were spun in multiple, alternating controlled layers onto spools, and subsequently
compression moulded to produce unidirectional self-reinforced PLA composites consisting of 60 vol.%
PLLA fibres reinforced with 7 wt.% CNC in a matrix of amorphous PDLLA, which itself contained 7 wt.%
of CNC. We observed improvements in viscoelastic properties of up to 175% in terms of storage moduli
in bending. Furthermore, strains to failure for PLLA fibre reinforced PDLLA were recorded at 17%.