Role of Ca2+ on structures and properties of regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solutions and fibres

It has been known that the concentration of Ca 2+ gradually increased along the silk gland of silkworm and it played an important role in the spinning process of silk fibre in vivo. In this work, Raman spectrometer, synchrotron radiation wide angle X-ray diffraction facility and material testing ins...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials research innovations 2014-05, Vol.18 (S2), p.S2-113-S2-115
Main Authors: Jin, Y., Hang, Y. C., Zhang, Y. P., Shao, H. L., Hu, X. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aqueous solutions
Fibers
Fibres
Mechanical properties
Regenerated silk fibroin
Resultants
Silk
Silk fibroin
Spectrometers
Spinning
Structures
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Summary:It has been known that the concentration of Ca 2+ gradually increased along the silk gland of silkworm and it played an important role in the spinning process of silk fibre in vivo. In this work, Raman spectrometer, synchrotron radiation wide angle X-ray diffraction facility and material testing instrument were used to investigate the effect of Ca 2+ on the structures and properties of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) in its aqueous solutions and dry spun fibres. It was found that as the concentration of Ca 2+ increased in the RSF aqueous solutions and fibres, the conformational transition to β-sheet was promoted, and the resultant post-treated RSF fibre showed higher crystallinity, higher crystalline orientation as well as better mechanical properties. Therefore, it could be concluded that the addition of Ca 2+ had improved the structures of RSF aqueous solutions and the resultant fibres, and it might be a feasible approach to obtaining high performance RSF fibres.
ISSN:1432-8917
1433-075X
DOI:10.1179/1432891714Z.000000000397