Effect of Film Thickness on Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane Based Polymeric Films Fabricated by Doctor Blade Casting

Author

Kothwala Dr. Deveshkumar Mahendralal, Shaikh Amirhamzah Mahmadiqbal, Khalifa Haroonmohammad Rasidmohammad, Bhavsar Girakumari Rajubhai and Pathan Uvesh Mohamad Zakirkhan


Abstract

 Polyurethane-based polymeric films are widely used in biomedical and medical device applications due to their excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, and mechanical strength. In this study, polymeric films were fabricated using an automatic film casting technique employing the doctor blade method. Films with three different thicknesses (130, 150, and 180 µm) were prepared and evaluated to investigate the influence of thickness on mechanical performance. Mechanical characterization was performed using tensile strength, tear resistance, and suture pull-out tests. The results demonstrated that film thickness significantly influenced the mechanical properties of the polymeric films. The 180 µm films exhibited superior tensile strength and tear resistance compared to thinner films, while the 130 µm films showed comparatively lower mechanical stability. Suture pull-out testing further confirmed improved retention strength with increasing film thickness. These findings suggest that optimized film thickness plays a critical role in improving the mechanical performance of polyurethane films for biomedical applications.



Keywords

Polymeric films; Doctor blade casting; Film thickness; Mechanical properties; Tensile strength; Tear resistance; Suture retention strength



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