Open AccessCorrelation between processing conditions, microstructure and mechanical behavior in regenerated silkworm silk fibers
Author(s) -
Plaza Gustavo R.,
Corsini Paola,
Marsano Enrico,
PérezRigueiro José,
Elices Manuel,
Riekel Christian,
Vendrely Charlotte,
Guinea Gustavo V.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part b: polymer physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1099-0488
pISSN - 0887-6266
DOI - 10.1002/polb.23025
Subject(s) - silk , spider silk , materials science , microstructure , composite material , spinning , crystallinity , ultimate tensile strength , amorphous solid , natural fiber , polymer science , fiber , chemistry , organic chemistry
Regenerated silkworm fibers spun through a wet‐spinning process followed by an immersion postspinning drawing step show a work to fracture comparable with that of natural silkworm silk fibers in a wide range of spinning conditions. The mechanical behavior and microstructure of these high performance fibers have been characterized, and compared with those fibers produced through conventional spinning conditions. The comparison reveals that both sets of fibers share a common semicrystalline microstructure, but significant differences are apparent in the amorphous region. Besides, high performance fibers show a ground state and the possibility of tuning their tensile behavior. These properties are characteristic of spider silk and not of natural silkworm silk, despite both regenerated and natural silkworm silk share a common composition different from that of spider silk. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
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