Enhanced mechanical properties of poly (ε-caprolactone) nanofibers produced by the addition of non-stoichiometric inclusion complexes of poly (ε-caprolactone) and α-cyclodextrin

Schematic illustration of the suggested morphologies of PCL nanowebs containing (n-s)-PCL-α-CD-ICs. The un-included PCL chain portions of the (n-s)-PCL-α-CD-ICs serve to nucleate and increase the crystallization of the unthreaded matrix PCL chains. In addition, intimate crystallization of unthreaded matrix PCL chains and un-included PCL chain portions of (n-s)-PCL-α-CD-ICs serve to tie them together. Both of these factors lead to significant increases in nanoweb strength and concomitant decreases in their elongation.346