Tensile versus AFM testing of electrospun PVA nanofibers: Bridging the gap from Microscale to nanoscale

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Design and application of mechanically extraordinary nanofibers requires their full comprehension, based on conclusive testing methods. Electrospun polymer nanofibers, for instance, show a progressive and pronounced increase in their Young's moduli when diameters decrease below the µm scale. Measurement of mechanical properties in this diameter range is challenging and in the vast majority of reports, two classes of methods are commonly used: highly sensitive tensile testing and atomic force microscopy three-point deformation testing. Despite the methods' inherent dissimilarity, we resolve their conformity for the first time, with respect to the determination of Young's moduli. Here, we benchmark them against each other for electrospun polyvinyl-alcohol nanofibers, a well-defined model system. Our results provide an experimental basis for a comprehensive understanding of nanofiber structures and its implications on their mechanical properties.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2418-2424
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
Volume54
Issue number23
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • atomic force microscopy (AFM), electrospinning, fibers, mechanical properties, mechanics, modulus, nanofibers, tensile testing