Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Title

Do Electrospun Polymer Fibers Stick?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-4-2010

Abstract

Adhesion between electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers was directly measured in a cross-cylinder geometry using a nanoforce tensile tester. The surface roughness of fibers was determined by an atomic force microscope (AFM), and the structural factors were characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). “Pull-off” force was found to be in the order of 10−6 N, and the adhesion energy was 190 ± 7 mJ/m2. Adhesion increases with decreasing fiber radius. The experimental data are analyzed by the classical Johnson−Kendall−Roberts (JKR) contact mechanics model. The study provides fruitful insights into future development of bio-inspired adhesives and devices.

Publication Title

Langmuir

Volume

26

Issue

17

First Page

14188

Last Page

14193

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