title: Coalesced poly(ε-caprolactone) fibers are stronger.
abstract: Melt-spun fibers were made from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) coalesced from stoichiometric inclusion complex crystals formed with host urea. Melting and crystallization behaviors, mechanical properties, and the birefringence of undrawn and cold-drawn fibers were investigated. Undrawn coalesced PCL fibers were observed to have 500-600% higher moduli than undrawn as-received (asr) PCL fibers and a modulus comparable to drawn asr PCL fibers. Drawn coalesced PCL fibers have the highest crystallinity, orientation, and 65% higher moduli than drawn asr PCL fibers. Drawn coalesced PCL fibers have only a 5% higher crystallinity than drawn asr PCL fibers, yet they have 65% higher moduli and lower elongation at break values. Clearly, the intrinsic alignment of the coalesced polymers is the reason for their higher moduli and lower elongation, as confirmed by the birefringence observed in drawn coalesced and asr-PCL fibers. The improved mechanical properties of coalesced PCL fibers make them a better candidate for use in tissue engineering as scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Fiber & Polymer Science Program College of Textiles, North Carolina State University , Campus Box 8301, 2401 Research Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8301, United States.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurarslan
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Caydamli
authors.forename: Jialong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shiaomeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Mahijeeth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yetukuri
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Tonelli
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone