Abstract
The objective in our study was to investigate the biaxial drawing of Poly (ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), a bioerodable polyester that is flexible and elastomeric. PCL films were fabricated using solution casting and melt-pressing methods, and biaxially drawn to draw ratio of 3×3. The morphology, mechanical properties and gas permeability changes of the undrawn and drawn films were studied. Results showed that even at the low draw ratio used, a fibrillar morphology developed in the films, interspersed with undrawn material. The tensile strengths of the drawn films were also improved by 50–160%. The solution-cast films have higher gas permeabilities (20-fold), with Knudsen flow character, than melt pressed films. This higher gas permeability was attributed to the presence of microvoids and drawing defects. Permeability was reduced in the melt-pressed films and oxygen was found to permeate three times faster than nitrogen. Biaxial drawing increased the gas permeability slightly but selectivity remained unchanged.
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