Method for determination of in-vitro fiber dissolution rate by direct optical measurement of diameter decrease

Abstract

A new method for measuring in vitro fiber dissolution rate in physiological saline solutions is based on direct optical measurement of fiber diameter decrease. Dissolution times measured by this new method for a variety of vitreous silicate fibers with a wide range of dissolution rates are in good agreement with results from SEM and from traditional mass loss and solution analysis techniques. The new method is conceptually and experimentally simple, and it can be applied directly to fibers pulled from the original fiber sample with no pretreatment.