Regenerated cellulose-silk fibroin blends fibers

Int J Biol Macromol. 2008 Aug 15;43(2):106-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2008.03.009. Epub 2008 Apr 11.

Abstract

Fibers made of cellulose and silk fibroin at different composition were wet spun from solutions by using N-methylmorpholine N-oxide hydrates (NMMO/H(2)O) as solvent and ethanol as coagulant. Different spinning conditions were used. The fibers were characterized by different techniques: FTIR-Raman, scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle x-ray diffraction, DSC analysis. The results evidence a phase separation in the whole blends compositions. The tensile characterization, however, illustrates that the properties of the blends fibers are higher respect to a linear behaviour between the pure polymers, confirming a good compatibility between cellulose and silk fibroin. The fibers containing 75% of cellulose show better mechanical properties than pure cellulose fibers: modulus of about 23 GPa and strength to break of 307 MPa.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Cyclic N-Oxides / chemistry
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • Fibroins / chemistry*
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Morpholines / chemistry
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Cyclic N-Oxides
  • Morpholines
  • Ethanol
  • Cellulose
  • Fibroins
  • 4-methylmorpholine N-oxide