Effect of water on Bombyx mori regenerated silk fibers and its application in modifying their mechanical properties

摘要: The effect of water on regenerated silkworm silk fibers has been studied and compared with that natural fibers. Regenerated are spun from an N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) fibroin solution through a wet-spinning process, leading to two distinct tensile behaviors, labeled as brittle ductile, respectively. show significant contraction when immersed in water. Contraction increases further after drying. In contrast, negligible submerged tested considerably more compliant than samples air, though their stiffness strength significantly reduced. It shown the properties can be modified by wet-stretching which consists deforming fiber while wet-stretched always ductile behavior independent initial behavior.