Polymer, Vol.41, No.15, 5855-5864, 2000
Simultaneous biaxial drawing of poly (epsilon-caprolactone) films
The objective in our study was to investigate the biaxial drawing of Poly (epsilon-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 x 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.