Carbon fiber-reinforced gelatin composites. II. Swelling behavior

Carbon fiber-reinforced gelatin composites have been prepared in our labora tory to obtain a navel biomaterial of improved mechanical properties. The s welling behavior (swelling rate, swelling kinetics, maximum solvent uptake, etc.) for both continuous carbon fiber-reinforced gelatin composite (C-L/G el) and short carbon fiber-reinforced gelatin composite (C-S/Gel) are inves tigated. Experimental data show that the swelling process of the original g elatin and gelatin matrixes in both composites follows a second-order kinet ics. The swelling of the gelatin matrixes in both composites proceeds slowe r than that of the pristine gelatin, and depends on fiber form and fiber vo lume fraction (Vf). Results indicate that the presence of carbon fibers sup presses the swelling of the gelatin matrixes in both composites. It is foun d that the gelatin matrix in C-S/Gel possesses a smaller swelling rate and maximum solvent uptake than that in C-L/Gel. A mechanism governing these ph enomena is discussed in this article. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.