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Mechanical testing of electrospun PCL fibers |
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| Authors: | Croisier F Duwez A-S Jérôme C Léonard A F van der Werf K O Dijkstra P J Bennink M L |
| Institution: | a Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, Sart Tilman, B6a, 4000 Liège, Belgium b Nanochemistry and Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, Sart Tilman, B6a, 4000 Liège, Belgium c Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Department of Engineering, University of Liège, Sart Tilman, B6a, 4000 Liège, Belgium d Nanobiophysics, Department of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands e Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials, Department of Science and Technology, Institute for Biomedical Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers ranging from 250 to 700 nm in diameter were produced by electrospinning a polymer tetrahydrofuran/N,N-dimethylformamide solution. The mechanical properties of the fibrous scaffolds and individual fibers were measured by different methods. The Young’s moduli of the scaffolds were determined using macro-tensile testing equipment, whereas single fibers were mechanically tested using a nanoscale three-point bending method, based on atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy analyses. The modulus obtained by tensile-testing eight different fiber scaffolds was 3.8 ± 0.8 MPa. Assuming that PCL fibers can be described by the bending model of isotropic materials, a Young’s modulus of 3.7 ± 0.7 GPa was determined for single fibers. The difference of three orders of magnitude observed in the moduli of fiber scaffolds vs. single fibers can be explained by the lacunar and random structure of the scaffolds. |
| Keywords: | Poly epsilon-caprolactone Single fiber Electrospinning AFM Mechanical properties |
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