Tensile versus AFM testing of electrospun PVA nanofibers: Bridging the gap from Microscale to nanoscale. Issue 23 (6th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neugirg, Benedikt R.; Burgard, Matthias; Greiner, Andreas; Fery, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 54:Issue 23(2016)
• Page Start: 2418
• Page End: 2424
• Publication Date: 2016-09-06
• Subjects: atomic force microscopy (AFM) -- electrospinning -- fibers -- mechanics -- mechanical properties -- modulus -- nanofibers -- tensile testing; 547
• DOI: 10.1002/polb.24225
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-6266

Abstract

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. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.2016, 54, 2418–2424 Abstract : Design and application of mechanically extraordinary electrospun nanofibers requires their full comprehension, based on conclusive testing methods. The non‐trivial task of mechanical nanofiber probing is commonly faced by specialized tensile or AFM‐based three‐point testing. Despite the methods' inherent dissimilarity, their conformity is resolved here for the first time, with respect to the determination of Young's moduli.