Abstract: A process for producing a polymer strand involves: inserting a nucleation element into a pre-strand composition, the pre-strand composition comprising a polymer mixed with a solvent, the polymer having a concentration in the pre-strand composition that is greater than or equal to an overlap concentration (c*) of the polymer in the pre-strand composition; and, withdrawing the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition so that a strand comprising the polymer is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition, the nucleation element being withdrawn at a rate such that a pull time (?pull) of the nucleation element is less than a reptation time (?rep) required to relax polymer entanglements in the pre-strand composition, thereby inducing a viscoelastic response in the pre-strand composition as the strand is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition.

Abstract: A process for producing a polymer strand involves: inserting a nucleation element into a pre-strand composition, the pre-strand composition comprising a polymer mixed with a solvent, the polymer having a concentration in the pre-strand composition that is greater than or equal to an overlap concentration (c*) of the polymer in the pre-strand composition; and, withdrawing the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition so that a strand comprising the polymer is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition, the nucleation element being withdrawn at a rate such that a pull time (?pull) of the nucleation element is less than reptation time (?rep) required to relax polymer entanglements in the pre-strand composition, thereby inducing a viscoelastic response in the pre-strand composition as the strand is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition.

Abstract: A process for producing a core-sheath polymer strand involves inserting a nucleation element through a first pre-strand composition at least partially into a second pre-strand composition. The first pre-strand composition contains a first polymer and the second pre-strand composition contains a second polymer. The nucleation element is then withdrawn from the second pre-strand composition through the first pre-strand composition. The nucleation element is then pulled out of the first pre-strand composition so that a polymer strand having a core of the first polymer encapsulated by a sheath of the second polymer is pulled by the nucleation element out from the pre-strand compositions. The core-sheath polymer may be differentially cross-linked and functional additives may be included in the pre-strand compositions so that the core-sheath polymer contains different functional additives in the core vs. the sheath or different concentrations of the same additive in the core vs. the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biomaterial fabrication process for the manufacture of a collagen based fabric for an aligned collagen fiber network.