Poly(L/D)lactide 96/4 fibres with diameters
of 50 and 80 lm were produced. The smaller diameter
fibres were carded and needle punched to form a
non-woven mat. Fibres and non-woven mats were
hydrolysed for a period of 20 weeks. Fibres and
pressed non-woven discs were treated with lowtemperature
oxygen plasma and alkaline KOH hydrolysis
and ethanol washing was used as a reference
treatment. The non-wovens lost 50% of their tear
strength after 8 weeks in vitro while the fibres still
retained 65% tensile strength after 20 weeks. Hydrolysation
time in KOH, treatment time and power
settings of the oxygen plasma were all directly proportional
to the mechanical properties of the fibres.
Increasing time (and power) resulted in lower tensile
properties. Rapid wetting of the scaffolds was achieved
by oxygen plasma, KOH hydrolysation and ethanol
washing.