Fabrication Effects on Properties of Composites for Medical Applications: 2 - Retention of Composite Mechanical Properties

Single-fiber fragmentation tests and degradation tests of carbon/poly(ε-caprolactone) composites were used to investigate the effect of two fabrication methods: in situ polymerization and film stacking. The resulting specimens were tested in the as-molded state and after time periods of up to 2 months in an aqueous environment. The results demonstrate considerably significant improvements in the flexural properties for samples from the in situ process compared with film stacking. This is attributed to superior wetting of the reinforcement. Single-fiber fragmentation tests confirm the superior interfacial shear strength from the in situ polymerized specimens.