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Improvements of Tensile Properties and Durability of Chitosan Fiber Using Methanol Drying Treatment
Author(s) -
Judawisastra Hermawan,
Hadyiswanto Indra O. C.,
Sitohang Ramona D. R.,
Winiati Wiwin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.201550320
Subject(s) - ultimate tensile strength , chitosan , crystallinity , materials science , fiber , composite material , wet strength , biodegradation , methanol , durability , tensile testing , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Summary Chitosan fiber is a biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymer that is potentially suitable as absorbable suture. One approach to improve mechanical properties of chitosan fiber is application of chemical modification. This study aims to improve the tensile properties and durability of chitosan fibers, in terms of biodegradation resistance, at various deacetylation degrees using methanol drying treatment. The fibers were made of chitosan with deacetylation degrees (%DD) of 67.4% and 70.6% using wet spinning method and dried using aq. 30% methanol for 4 h. Examinations were carried out by means of X‐ray diffraction, physical properties characterization, tensile test and in vitro degradation test. Results show that methanol drying treatment could decrease fiber's diameter, while increasing fiber's density, tensile strength, and biodegradation resistance, but did not always increase fiber's maximum elongation. The expected higher elongation was achieved for 70.6%DD fiber, however the more significant improvement of durability was obtained for 67.4%DD fiber. Methanol drying affected those fibers' characteristics due to the increase in degree of crystallinity as a result of chitosan fiber's chemical structure change from hydrated to anhydrous structure. According to the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) standard, the fibers produced could be categorized as absorbable suture number 0 and 1.