High Elongation Research Articles

Effects of boron nitride nanoplates on the dielectric and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes/silicone rubber composites

AbstractCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) have aroused great attentions in silicone rubber (SR) composites due to the excellent electrical and mechanical properties. However, the distribution of CNTs is not ideal because of the agglomeration effect of nanomaterials. Incorporating different dimensional nanofillers may be a solution. In this work, two‐dimensional boron nitride (BN) was added to fabricate CNTs/BN/SR composites. The results showed that BN could benefit the dispersion of CNTs and improve the dielectric and mechanical behaviors of the composites. Large dielectric constant (5.35, 92% more than pure SR) with extremely low loss tangent (0.00108) was obtained in the SR composites incorporated with 2 wt% CNTs and 5 wt% BN. High tensile stress (836 kPa) and elongation at break (332%) were also achieved, with a low elastic modulus of 557 kPa. Besides, the CNTs/BN/SR composites had thermal stability up to 400°C. Thus, enhanced dielectric and mechanical properties were achieved in CNTs/BN/SR composites by incorporating different dimensional nanofillers, which have great potential applications in dielectric elastomer composites.

Almond gum‐chitosan nanocomposite as edible formulation for advancing postharvest longevity of fruits and vegetables

AbstractPostharvest produces including fruits and vegetables are perishable and require preservation for prolonged shelf life. Edible coatings are emerging as a safe and value‐added alternative for traditional preservation methods such as refrigeration and chemical treatments. In this article, we have developed almond gum/chitosan (AC)‐based edible coating/formulation and investigated the effectiveness of coating on improving the shelf life of tomatoes and blueberries. The coated tomatoes and blueberries, after a shelf life of 25 and 20 days, respectively exhibited a significant improvement in weight loss (5%–20%), reduced acidity (1–3 folds), and kept the ascorbic acid content lower when compared to the uncoated tomatoes and blueberries. Both the coated tomatoes and blueberries did not exhibit spoilage indicating antimicrobial activity of the coating. Direct testing of the coating formulations exhibited significant anti‐microbial activity against Staphyococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. The polymer films, prepared using the coating formulation, exhibited low moisture content (34.8 ± 2.02% and 41.5 ± 1.34%), low solubility (42.56 ± 2.3% and 31.31 ± 3.1%), low tensile strength (0.34 ± 0.05 N m−2 and 0.75 ± 0.07 N m−2) and high elongation (63.2 ± 4.12% and 71.5 ± 3.8%). These measured film properties confirm that the polymer film has good flexibility and is suitable for edible packaging. Overall, the newly developed AC edible coating exhibits significant potential for a wide range of applications within the food processing industry, offering a viable substitute for conventional wax and lipid‐based coatings.

Technological properties of aromatic Basmati rice accessions

The objective of this study was to characterize the paste profile of basmati-style aromatic rice accessions. The evaluation of the 56 rice accessions by the Mean of Distances Method yielded seven groups of rice accessions based on the evaluated parameters (elongation, apparent amylose content (AAC), aroma, and paste properties). Group 1 was represented by the control sample IRGA417, a non-aromatic cultivar with the highest AAC (22.5%). The aromatic cultivars Jasmine, Empasc 104, IAC500, and Jasmine85 constituted the third group. Group 4 consisted of 41 Basmati accessions and exhibited the highest average elongation ratio (greater than 2.0). Groups 3 and 4 exhibited comparable aroma scores (2.9 and 2.8, respectively) and retrogradation processes (final viscosity: 285.37 and 291.26 RVU, and setback: 136.84 and 166.01 RVU, respectively). Group 5 was constituted with seven Basmati accessions, while groups 6 and 7 were formed with one and two Basmati accessions, respectively. Groups 5 and 6 exhibited comparable paste properties, with peak viscosities of 186.06 and 153.1 RVU, respectively, and final viscosities of 210.27 and 236.7 RVU, respectively, which were lower than those observed in the other groups. In contrast, group 7 exhibited intermediate parameters between the control IRGA417 and groups 3 and 4. Groups 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were classified as low amylose grains, with an AAC of 12-20%. The Basmati accession (group 4) exhibited a comparable paste profile, with a notable distinction in its high elongation, aroma, and low AAC. Consequently, these cultivars may be well accepted by consumers of aromatic rice.

Preservation of chilled beef using active films based on bacterial cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol with the incorporation of Perilla essential oil Pickering emulsion

In this study, Perilla essential oil (PEO) Pickering emulsions, prepared using soybean protein isolate-chitosan nanoparticles (SPI-CSNPs) as emulsifiers (SCEO), were used to improve the performance of bacterial cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol (BC/PVA) films for application in chilled beef preservation. The SCEO has a smaller particle size (185 nm), higher viscosity, a more uniform dispersion and was more stable at an oil phase volume fraction of 80 %. An increase in the films' surface roughness and in the hydrogen bonding between SCEO and the films' matrix was also observed, resulting in a lower tensile strength (TS, 94.75–62.02 MPa) and higher elongation at break (EAB, 26.78–55.62 %). Moreover, the thermal stability, water vapor permeability, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the composite films improved as the SCEO content increased. Furthermore, the Pickering emulsion method was effective in preventing the loss of PEO during storage. Overall, one particular composite film, BP/SCEO3, could prolong the shelf life of chilled beef by up to 14 days, and hence was promising for food preservation.

“Stiff‐Elastic” Binary Synergistic Fibrous Tape with Thermal‐Triggered Shrinkable and Shape Recoverable Performances for Wound Closure

AbstractThe emerging mechanically active wound dressing has been perceived as one of the most effective strategies to accelerate wound closure in a non‐invasive manner. However, the development of wound dressing with body temperature‐stimulated shrinkage behavior and superior mechanical capability is still a severe challenge. Here, a thermal‐shrinkable, stretchable, and tough fibrous tape is developed via the construction of “stiff‐elastic” binary component, as well as manipulation of the fiber stretching and phase separation. The resultant polyurethane (PU)/polyvinyl butyral (PVB) fibrous membrane (FM) shows a rapid and considerable shrinkage of 70.0% after exposure at 37 °C for 12 h. The shrunk PU/PVB FMs exhibit excellent mechanical performance including high elongation of 364.4%, large toughness of 26.6 MJ m−3 and rapid thermal‐recoverable capability with 80.4% and 71.8% restoration of stress and dissipated energy respectively. The in vivo study in rat full‐thickness skin model with 2 cm‐diameter circular wounds demonstrates that the thermal‐shrinkable PU/PVB FMs can enhance wound contraction and healing. Furthermore, the ex vivo rabbit organ model indicates the possibility of thermal‐shrinkable PU/PVB FMs in defect contraction of diverse tissues. This work may offer a promising way in the development of body temperature‐triggered mechanically active fibrous dressings for defects repair.

Microstructure Tailoring for High Strength Ti-6Al-4V without Alloying Elements through Optimized Preheating and Post-Heating Laser Scanning in Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Ti-6Al-4V with its eclectic array of excellent properties along with the combination of meticulous precision and flexibility offered by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology makes it a strong proponent in the field of engineering applications. As a substantial amount of research has paved the way to fabricate Ti-6AL-4V more effectively and efficiently, researchers are becoming more adventurous in finding out the optimal techniques to get better yields in terms of mechanical responses. This includes post-processing techniques i.e., heat treatment (HT) or introducing various alloying elements. Nevertheless, these techniques not only make the overall fabrication more expensive and time-consuming but also contradict the simplistic notion of additive manufacturing (AM) by imparting multistage fabrication without a considerable improvement overall. Here, we propose an innovative breakthrough in the field of Ti-6AL-4V fabrication with LPBF by introducing an in-situ approach to tackle the handicap mentioned in contemporary studies. By imparting multiple laser scans prior to and after the melting scan at each layer, a remarkable 37% improvement in yield strength (YS) can be achieved with higher elongation, while also maintaining a high relative density of around 99.99%.

Structure refinement and performance balance of high-strength aluminum alloys using an improved thermomechanical treatment process

The microstructure of 7A85 aluminum alloy forgings often contains coarse second-phase particles and grains. To improve the microstructures and balance the properties, we used an enhanced thermomechanical treatment process that included multiaxial hot forging, multiaxial cryoforging (MACF), and three-step aging treatment. We thoroughly investigated the effects of MACF with 1–3 passes on the evolution of microstructure, three-dimensional (3D) mechanical properties at the center and edge, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance of the alloy. Our findings revealed that multiaxial hot forging had a limited ability to crush the coarse second-phase particles. However, the higher flow stress and compound brittleness of MACF resulted in a significant increase in particle fragmentation and driving force for precipitation. Additionally, under MACF, massive dislocations proliferated due to the inhibition of dynamic recovery, forming large orientation gradient regions, which promote static recrystallization and grain refinement during solution treatment. As the number of MACF passes increased from one to three, the effect of particle crushing initially increased and then plateaued, the 3D grain sizes first decreased and then slightly increased, and the spacing of grain boundary precipitates (GBPs) increased. The dense and uniform precipitates, finest equiaxed grains, a low fraction of coarse particles, and large GBP spacing in MACF2 resulted in the higher strength, highest elongation with minimal anisotropy, superior fracture toughness, and enhanced corrosion resistance. Ultimately, MACF2 demonstrated the best overall performance and good homogeneity, with an average 3D ultimate tensile strength, average 3D yield strength, average 3D elongation, and fracture toughness at the center of 548 MPa, 476 MPa, 13.4%, and 42.5 MPa m1/2, respectively. These values were respectively 4.2%, 1.9%, 50.6%, and 13.9% higher than those of the uncompressed sample.

RETRACTED: Screening of hindered phenol antioxidants by quantum chemical method for improving the aging properties of polyurethane railpad in railway

Polyurethane material has excellent performance and is widely used as railpad in railway, but it is prone to aging and fatigue during long-term service, resulting in a decrease in its performance. In order to improve the aging and fatigue resistance of polyurethane railpad, as well as the efficiency of screening antioxidant, this paper first used quantum chemical method to calculate three types of grafted hindered phenolic antioxidants. Then, polyurethane elastomer railpads with grafted preferred hindered phenolic antioxidants were prepared, and thermal oxidative aging experiments and thermo-oxygen-fatigue coupling aging experiments were conducted. The research results indicate that 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid molecules have better antioxidant properties. When the degradation rate is less than 20%, the activation energy of polyurethane railpads with grafted hindered phenolic antioxidants is about 20% higher than that of ungrafted materials. After 200 days of thermal oxidative aging, polyurethane railpads with grafted hindered phenolic antioxidants maintain high tensile strength and elongation at break, while maintaining stable static stiffness. Their carbonyl index and loss tangent increase only by 10% and 14.8%, respectively, while unmodified samples increase by 29.4% and 26.4%. Scanning electron microscopy also shows a significant reduction in surface cracks on polyurethane railpads grafted with hindered phenolic antioxidants.

Enhancing weatherability and mechanical properties of tung oil wood finishes through natural rubber modification via the Diels-Alder reaction

Tung oil is commonly utilized for coating protection in wooden products, often attracting attention for its appearance, antimicrobial capabilities, and insect-resistant coatings. However, its poor mechanical properties and poor weather resistance stem from excessive self-crosslinking of surplus conjugated double bonds and molecular chains, resulting in poor film wrinkling. Therefore, this study introduces natural rubber via the Diels-Alder reaction to consume the residual double bonds in tung oil, resulting in tung oil/natural rubber composite coatings (NRTO) with excellent mechanical properties and weather resistance. The results indicate that NRTO exhibits excellent mechanical properties, including high elongation (32 %) and strong adhesion (4.55 MPa). Furthermore, NRTO demonstrates outstanding acid resistance and UV aging resistance. Given its many benefits, NRTO film emerges as a promising candidate for substantially protecting wood surfaces in demanding environments.

Sustainable valorisation of bioactive molecules from rice husks through hydrothermal extraction for chitosan-based bioplastic production

Rice husks are a low value byproduct, even though it possesses molecules with great potential, such as arabinoxylans, proteins, and silica. These molecules can be used to improve mechanical and physicochemical properties of materials for food packaging. In this work, hydrothermal treatment was used for a sustainable extraction of the valuable molecules present in rice husks. Various extraction temperatures (180, 200, and 220 °C) were performed targeting to extract fractions with distinct compositions. The water extract obtained at 220 °C demonstrated the highest extraction yield, 3 times superior to conventional hot water extraction. These extracts exhibited high content of proteins, phenolic compounds, and carbohydrates, particularly arabinoxylans. This extract was incorporated in chitosan-based films in different ratios, 1:0.1, 1:0.3, and 1:0.5 (chitosan:extract, w:v). The film with the lowest extract ratio presented the highest flexibility (higher elongation and lower Young's modulus) when compared to the pristine chitosan film. The antioxidant capacity was also increased, achieving an antioxidant capacity of >10-fold in comparison to control film. The results revealed that hydrothermal extraction emerges as an environmentally friendly and sustainable methodology for extracting valuable compounds from rice industry byproducts. This method exhibits significant potential to impart flexible and antioxidant properties to biobased materials.

Preparation and characterization of hydrophobic waterborne polyurethane self‐matting coating

AbstractA green method to synthesize self‐matting waterborne polyurethane acrylic hybrid emulsion with hydrophobic function is introduced in this study. A reactive waterborne polyurethane (RWPU) dispersion containing unsaturated CC double bonds was prepared from epoxidized soybean oil. Subsequently, the RWPU dispersion was copolymerized with fluorinated monomers of different carbon chain lengths to prepare polyurethane acrylic hybrid emulsion (PUF). The results revealed the gloss levels of PUF films to be as low as 12.4 gloss units at 60°. The morphology of PUF films was observed by scanning electron microscope and three‐dimensional surface profilometer, and the relationship between surface roughness and gloss was discussed in detail. In addition, thermal gravimetric analysis was conducted to determine the thermal stability of the PUF films, and the results denoted that these PUF films exhibited excellent thermal stability. Comprehensive performance tests indicated that the RWPU dispersion, which was copolymerized with hexafluorobutyl methacrylate at a weight of 10%, exhibited a low gloss, a high contact angle of 120°, and a high elongation percentage of 423%. Furthermore, the dynamic light scattering results showed small average particle size, revealing the excellent storage stabilities.

Tuning the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of self‐standing stretchable PEDOT:PSS/SDBS films

AbstractPoly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has recently attracted significant attention as a potential candidate for small‐scale thermoelectric conversion because of its ease of doping, and solution processability. This study addressed the fabrication of self‐standing PEDOT:PSS films modified with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant, presuming different annealing temperatures. According to the investigation, optimizing the annealing temperature improves crystal quality and increases the efficiency of PEDOT:PSS films. The resulting PEDOT:PSS films showed the highest electrical conductivity of about 623.68 Scm−1 and maximum power factor of 25.87 μWm−1 K−2. In addition to confirming thermoelectric properties; SDBS surfactants are being investigated to plasticize PEDOT:PSS films at different concentrations and annealing temperatures. With an optimization in annealing temperature, the elongation at break value similarly improves; and the highest elongation at break was observed at 0.94 wt% SDBS concentration, reaching 32%. To completely understand the underlying reasons for this dependence, higher‐order structures and electronic states of polymer films have been examined using electronic reflectance spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Overall, the outcomes of this work show how important surfactants and their annealing temperature are for improving the mechanical and thermoelectric characteristics of self‐standing PEDOT:PSS films.

Achieving strength-ductility synergy in Al-4.5 wt%Cu binary alloy through semisolid isothermal treatment coupled with ECAP

Bulk nanostructured (NS) aluminum alloys typically have high strength but with extremely limited ductility. An advanced two-step thermomechanical processing, i.e. semisolid isothermal treatment coupled with equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP), was adopted to achieve high strength (413±2.5 MPa) and high elongation (12.0±0.6 %) in bulk NS Al-4.5 wt%Cu binary alloy. The broken nanoscale Al2Cu particles (∼50–80 nm) from lamellar eutectic, dynamic precipitations Al2Cu (∼30–60 nm), refined grains, and high-density dislocations are believed to be key contributors for the high strength. The bimodal grain structure, which caused a well-balanced work hardening and a good deformation compatibility, is critical for the enhanced strength-ductility synergy. This work demonstrates a new approach for improving strength-ductility synergy in interdendritic-eutectic type aluminum alloys.

Flexible piezoelectric pressure sensor based on BaTiO3-CNT/RTV composite film with filter paper microstructures for monitoring hand motions

Flexible piezoelectric sensors are widely used in various applications such as physiological signal monitoring and human-computer interaction. The present study introduces a BaTiO3-CNT/RTV piezoelectric sensor fabricated using a filter paper template. It incorporates micro-scale fiber stacking and a 1% CNT doping in the microstructure, resulting in a notable enhancement of sensor sensitivity, increasing it from 0.07 V N−1 to 0.69 V N−1, representing an almost tenfold improvement. Furthermore, the study investigates the influence of affecting factors like the flexible substrate of the sensing film, thickness, and mass fractions of various materials on the output voltage. The sensor exhibits superior characteristics such as good repeatability under 5000 cyclic loads, high elongation at break, fast response (80 ms) and recovery times (90 ms), and good linearity. It also demonstrates outstanding sensitivity (12 mV/10°) when monitoring different finger bending states, enabling real-time, sensitive, and reliable hand motion tracking. This sensor holds promising prospects for future developments in the fields of intelligent grasping and sign language translation.

On the Unique Morphology and Elastic Properties of Multi-Jet Electrospun Cashew Gum-Based Fiber Mats.

This study investigates the unique morphology and mechanical properties of multi-jet electrospun cashew gum (CG) when combined with high-molecular-weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) and glycerol. Cashew gum (CG) is a low-cost, non-toxic heteropolysaccharide derived from Anacardium occidentale trees. Initially, the electrospinnability of aqueous solutions of cashew gum alone or in combination with PEO was evaluated. It was found that cashew gum alone was not suitable for electrospinning; thus, adding a small quantity of PEO was needed to create the necessary molecular entanglements for fiber formation. By using a single emitter with a CG:PEO ratio of 85:15, straight and smooth fibers with some defects were obtained. However, additional purification of the cashew gum solution was needed to produce more stable and defect-free straight and smooth fibers. Additionally, the inclusion of glycerol as a plasticizer was required to overcome material fragility. Interestingly, when the optimized formulation was electrospun using multiple simultaneous emitters, thicker aligned fiber bundles were achieved. Furthermore, the resulting oriented fiber mats exhibited unexpectedly high elongation at break under ambient conditions. These findings underscore the potential of this bio-polysaccharide-based formulation for non-direct water contact applications that demand elastic properties.

Preparation of Polyoxymethylene/Exfoliated Molybdenum Disulfide Nanocomposite through Solid-State Shear Milling.

In this paper, the solid-state shear milling (S3M) strategy featuring a very strong three-dimensional shear stress field was adopted to prepare the high-performance polyoxymethylene (POM)/molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) functional nanocomposite. The transmission electron microscope and Raman measurement results confirmed that the bulk MoS2 particle was successfully exfoliated into few-layer MoS2 nanoplatelets by the above simple S3M physical method. The polarized optical microscope (PLM) observation indicated the pan-milled nanoscale MoS2 particles presented a better dispersion performance in the POM matrix. The results of the tribological test indicated that the incorporation of MoS2 could substantially improve the wear resistance performance of POM. Moreover, the pan-milled exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets could further substantially decrease the friction coefficient of POM. Scanning electron microscope observations on the worn scar revealed the tribological mechanism of the POM/MoS2 nanocomposite prepared by solid-state shear milling. The tensile test results showed that the pan-milled POM/MoS2 nanocomposite has much higher elongation at break than the conventionally melt-compounded material. The solid-state shear milling strategy shows a promising prospect in the preparation of functional nanocomposite with excellent comprehensive performance at a large scale.

Mechanical properties of scCu-rGO /Cu composites reinforced with Cu2O transition layer constructed by supercritical CO2 deposition

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with surface-loaded Cu particles (scCu-rGO) was prepared by supercritical CO2 deposition, and Cu matrix composites with scCu-rGO as a reinforcement (scCu-rGO/Cu composites) were successfully prepared by ball milling for different times and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The scCu-rGO/Cu composites prepared with a ball milling time of 20 h exhibited high electrical conductivity (96.3 % IACS), tensile strength (240 MPa), and elongation (37 %). The outstanding properties are mainly ascribed to the uniform distribution of rGO by the ball milling process and rGO promoted by loading Cu particles onto its surface through supercritical deposition, which led to an interfacial reaction between rGO and Cu, resulting in the formation of a Cu2O transition layer with a load-transferring effect that enhanced the mechanical properties of the composites. Based on the experimental results, the strength of scCu-rGO/Cu composites is mainly enhanced by synergistic strengthening through grain refinement, Orowan looping and load transfer strengthening. This study demonstrates that the use of supercritical deposition to construct Cu2O transition layers can result in a strength-plasticity and high electrical conductivity match in scCu-rGO/Cu composites. The findings presented here offer new insights for innovative design of Cu matrix composites for advanced engineering applications by using supercritical deposition.

Fabrication of TiB2/6061Al composite with tailoring heterostructure and superior mechanical properties and investigation on deformation behaviors

Overcoming the trade-off between strength and ductility remains a critical challenge for Al matrix composites. Here, TiB2/6061Al composites with harmonic and lamellar heterostructures were fabricated via hot press sintering by altering the size of Al powders. The discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) and DRX take place, with DDRX being particularly promoted by the presence of fine grains around coarse grains. The activated slip systems of the grains with similar orientations are nearly identical during tension, while those of the randomly orientated grains vary significantly. Geometrically necessary dislocations form in fine grains due to their limited deformation compatibility, and also in the boundaries between fine and coarse grains. The heterostructured composite exhibits a superior strength-ductility synergy compared to the homogeneous composite, attributed to the hetero-deformation induced strengthening and dislocation strengthening. Strain concentrates in fine-grain zones with TiB2 particles, while the strain concentration is alleviated in coarse-grain zones, contributing to a high elongation.

High elongation heterostructure rare earth magnesium alloy based on rotating backward extrusion process

In this paper, Mg-9.5Gd-4Y–2Zn-0.5Zr cylindrical parts were prepared by the conventional backward extrusion (CBE) process and rotating backward extrusion (RBE) process. The effects of the two processes on the microstructure and mechanical properties of different orientation regions of rare earth magnesium alloy were analyzed and compared. The RBE process introduces a torsional shear quantity based on the CBE process. By changing the direction of plastic flow, has a positive effect on the elongation (EL) of the alloy. It was found that dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurred in both CBE and RBE processes. With the transition of deformation, the strain continues to accumulate, and the DRX mechanism changes from discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) to continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). Compared with the CBE process, the grain refinement of the RBE process is more significant. After deformation, a more significant heterostructure is obtained in the RBE-45° region, and the average grain size reaches 24.7 μm. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and EL of the alloy in this region are 292.5 ± 7.7 MPa, 226.6 ± 7.4 MPa, and 21.5 ± 1.3 %, respectively. Although the strength is slightly lower than that of CBE alloy, better plasticity is obtained. The excellent strength-toughness synergy is attributed to the synergistic effect between heterogeneous regions of non-uniform microstructure. This study provides some theoretical guidance for the industrial production of large-size magnesium alloy cylindrical parts and subsequent applications.

Development of Biocompatible Electrospun PHBV-PLLA Polymeric Bilayer Composite Membranes for Skin Tissue Engineering Applications.

Bilayer electrospun fibers aimed to be used for skin tissue engineering applications were fabricated for enhanced cell attachment and proliferation. Different ratios of PHBV-PLLA (70:30, 80:20, and 90:10 w/w) blends were electrospun on previously formed electrospun PHBV membranes to produce their bilayers. The fabricated electrospun membranes were characterized with FTIR, which conformed to the characteristic peaks assigned for both PHBV and PLLA. The surface morphology was evaluated using SEM analysis that showed random fibers with porous morphology. The fiber diameter and pore size were measured in the range of 0.7 ± 0.1 µm and 1.9 ± 0.2 µm, respectively. The tensile properties of the bilayers were determined using an electrodynamic testing system. Bilayers had higher elongation at break (44.45%) compared to the monolayers (28.41%) and improved ultimate tensile strength (7.940 MPa) compared to the PHBV monolayer (2.450 MPa). In vitro cytotoxicity of each of the scaffolds was determined via culturing MC3T3 (pre-osteoblastic cell line) on the membranes. Proliferation was evaluated using the Alamar Blue assay on days 3, 7, and 14, respectively. SEM images of cells cultured on membranes were taken in addition to bright field imaging to visually show cell attachment. Fluorescent nuclear staining performed with DAPI was imaged with an inverted fluorescent microscope. The fabricated bilayer shows high mechanical strength as well as biocompatibility with good cell proliferation and cell attachment, showing potential for skin substitute applications.