Fracture behaviour of cross-linked collagen fibres

Mechanical properties such as stress - strain, fracture behaviour and therm al behaviour were studied for cross-linked collagen fibres. The shrinkage t emperature of cross-linked fibres shows increase in temperature when compar ed to the control. The results on measurements of breaking strength and str ain show significant change when compared with that of the control. The mor phological features of the fractured ends of cross-linked fibres were indic ative of certain specific patterns. A critical observation of these pattern s indicate the role played by the nature of cross-linking agents on the mec hanism of failure of these fibres. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.