Performance evaluation of electrospun nanofibrous mats of polylactic acid (PLA)/poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) blends

This paper reports the evaluation of morphological (SEM, AFM), microstructural (WAXD), thermal (DSC, TGA), mechanical and viscoelastic properties of electrospun nanofibrous mats of PLA, PCL, and their blends. It was found that the composition with PLA/PCL (80:20) electrospun nanofibrous mat exhibited the highest tensile strength (similar to 2.1 MPa) and strain-at-break (similar to 94.4%) amongst fabricated mats. A compositionally optimized operational pathway has been established for designing and for the estimation of the physico-mechanical performance of various electrospun nanofibrous mats for potential biomedical applications. The study further demonstrates a precise technique for functionally aided designing, by impromptu physico-mechanical performance requirements of various electrospun nanofibrous mats for biomedical applications involving enhanced pliability, and retention of structural integrity. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.