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Silk fibroin/cellulose blend films: Preparation, structure, and physical properties
Author(s) -
Freddi Giuliano,
Romanò Maria,
Massafra Maria Rosaria,
Tsukada Masuhiro
Publication year - 1995
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/app.1995.070561203
Subject(s) - fibroin , cellulose , materials science , silk , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , dissolution , bombyx mori , composite material , polymer science , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering , gene
This article deals with the preparation and characterization of silk fibroin ( Bombyx mori )/cellulose blend films. Following dissolution with a metal complex solution, the average molecular weight of silk fibroin slightly decreased. While cellulose was almost unaffected. After coagulation and washing, transparent films were obtained by blending fibroin and cellulose in all proportions. The crystalline structures of regenerated fibroin and cellulose were β‐form and cellulose II, respectively, as shown by the characteristic x‐ray diffraction profiles. Density values increased with cellulose content, though less than expected from a pure additive behavior. Moisture regain increased following the addition of a small amount of cellulose to silk fibroin. The mechanical properties showed that both strength and elongation at break of silk fibroin films were improved by blending with cellulose. IR spectra exhibited changes in the skeletal frequences of silk fibroin, suggesting the occurrence of intermolecular interactions between fibroin and cellulose through hydrogen bond formation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.