Thermally induced increase in energy transport capacity of silkworm silks
Abstract
This work reports on the first study of thermally induced effect on energy transport in single filaments of silkworm (Bombyx mori) fibroin degummed mild (type 1), moderate (type 2), to strong (type 3). After heat treatment from 140 to 220°C, the thermal diffusivity of silk fibroin type 1, 2, and 3 increases up to 37.9, 20.9, and 21.5%, respectively. Our detailed scanning electron microscopy study confirms that the sample diameter change is almost negligible before and after heat treatment. Raman analysis is performed on the original and heat‐treated (at 147°C) samples. After heat treatment at 147°C, the Raman peaks at 1081, 1230, and 1665 cm−1 become stronger and narrower, indicating structural transformation from amorphous to crystalline. A structure model composed of amorphous, crystalline, and laterally ordered regions is proposed to explain the structural change by heat treatment. Owing to the close packing of more adjacent laterally ordered regions, the number and size of the crystalline regions of Bombyx mori silk fibroin increase by heat treatment. This structure change gives the observed significant thermal diffusivity increase by heat treatment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 1029–1037, 2014.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 23, 2014
- Source ID
- 10.1002/bip.22496
Entities
People
- Guoqing Liu
- Huan Lin
- Shen Xu
- Ting‐ting Cao
- Xiaoduan Tang
- Xinwei Wang
- Yu‐qing Zhang
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- Iowa State University
- Office of Naval Research
- Soochow University