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First Curl, Then Wrinkle
Author(s) -
Trindade Ana C.,
Canejo João P.,
Teixeira Paulo I. C.,
Patrício Pedro,
Godinho Maria H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201300436
Subject(s) - wrinkle , curling , materials science , composite material , curl (programming language) , curvature , blisters , instability , shell (structure) , mechanics , geometry , physics , mathematics , computer science , programming language
The excellent properties of elastomers are exploited to trigger wrinkling instabilities in curved shells. Micro‐ and nano‐fibres are produced by electrospinning and UV irradiated: each fibre consists of a soft core and a stiff outer half‐shell. Upon solvent de‐swelling, the fibres curl because the shell and the core have different natural lengths. Wrinkling only starts after the fibre has attained a well‐defined helical shape. A simple analytical model is proposed to find the curling curvature and wrinkle wavelength, as well as the transition between the “curling” and “wrinkling” regimes. This new instability resembles that found in the tendrils of climbing plants as they dry and lignify.