Electrospinning allows the production of fibrous networks for tissue engineering, drug delivery and wound healing in healthcare. It enables the production of constructs with large surface area and a fibrous morphology that closely resembles the extracellular matrix of many tissues. A fibrous structure not only promotes cell attachment and tissue formation, but could also lead to very interesting mechanical properties. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB-co-4HB)) is a biodegradable polyester that exhibits a large (>400%) elongation before failure. In this study, synchrotron X-ray phase contrast imaging was performed during tensile deformation to failure on a non-woven fibre mat of P(3HB-co-4HB) fibres. Significant reorientation of the fibres in the straining direction was observed, followed by localised necking and eventual failure. From an original average fibre diameter of 4.3 μm a bimodal distribution of fibre diameter (modal diameters of 1.9 and 3.7 μm) formed after tensile deformation. Extensive localised necking (thinning) of fibres between (thicker) fibre-fibre contacts was found to be the cause for non-uniform thinning of the fibres, a phenomenon that is expected, but has not been observed in 3D previously. The data presented here has implications not only in tissue regeneration but for fibrous materials in general.
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