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Compatibilization of acrylic polymer–silk fibroin blend fibers: 2. Morphology and mechanical properties of the compatilized blend fibers
Author(s) -
Sun Yuyu,
Shao Zhengzhong,
Zhou Jie,
Yu Tongyin
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19990912)73:11<2255::aid-app23>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - fibroin , materials science , compatibilization , composite material , polymer , acrylonitrile , polymer blend , polymer chemistry , copolymer , chemical engineering , silk , polymer science , engineering
Three synthesized acrylonitrile‐graft‐silk fibroin copolymers (AN‐g‐SF), denoted as COP‐65, COP‐87, and COP‐106, were used as potential compatilizers for acrylic polymer–silk fibroin blend fibers. Due to their different molecular weights and architecture, the compatibilizing efficiency is in the order of COP‐106 > COP‐65 > COP‐87. To maintain the “sheath‐core” structure of the blend fiber, COP‐65 was chosen as the compatilizer. It was found that the addition of a small amount of COP‐65 (up to 2 wt %) results in finer and more even distribution of the SF fibrils. On the contrary, excess COP‐65 will cause flocculation and coalescence of the SF phase. Similarly, mechanical properties are enhanced with an optimum amount of the compatilizers. However, when excess COP‐65 is added, the mechanical properties of the blend fibers are even worse than that of the uncompatilized samples. The mechanism of these findings is also discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 2255–2264, 1999