Mechanical characterization of nanofibers – A review

Nanofibers made from various materials such as polymers, carbon and semiconductors have been used for a wide range of applications such as tissue engineering, filter media, reinforcement in nanocomposites and micro/nano-electro-mechanical systems. In most of these applications, the nanofibers are subjected to stresses and strains from the surrounding media during their service lifetime. Such stresses can cause permanent deformation or even failure to the nanofibers. Therefore, there is a need to characterize the mechanical properties of single nanofibers. The aim of this paper is to provide a review of experimental techniques for the mechanical characterization of nanofibers, namely tensile test, bend test and indentation done at the nanoscale. The challenges involved in mechanical testing, current limitations and future work will also be discussed.