We investigate the fabrication of continuous carbon fiber/poly(ε-caprolactone) composites for biomedical applications. Two fabrication methods: in-situ polymerization and film stacking are compared at two different thicknesses. Analysis of void content produced via the two fabrication methods showed that the in-situ polymerization specimens had considerably lower void content than the film stacked samples. Significantly higher mechanical properties were obtained for the in-situ polymerized samples, and an almost three-fold increase in properties was seen as compared to the film stacked samples. Scanning electron microscopy images of surfaces supported the findings above. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed higher dynamic modulus for the in-situ polymerized samples which was consistent with the above results.
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