Tensile properties of silkworm silk obtained by forced silking

摘要: Bave was acquired by the forced silking of three Bombyx mori silkworms, and its tensile properties were characterized. The material collected from any given silkworm yielded reproducible force-displacement plots, which qualitatively similar to plots obtained silk other silkworms. This uniformity contrasts with highly variable exhibited had been reeled degummed cocoons. Scanning electron microscopy images used obtain information about sample cross-sectional area, so that could be rescaled as stress–strain curves. Surprisingly, scatter in increases after such rescaling. finding can explained terms sericin coating bave (which contributes area but not significantly load-bearing capacity) having a thickness. When eliminated degumming treatment, it found fibers showed more consistent areas. Therefore, curves B. are reproducible, provided data correct area. Finally, Weibull parameters determined. modulus, m, has value 13.0 ± 0.3, is than double previously cocoon, demonstrating process cocoons detrimental effect on distribution defects microstructure. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1928–1935,