Comparative Study of Strain‐Dependent Structural Changes of Silkworm Silks: Insight into the Structural Origin of Strain‐Stiffening. Issue 47 (27th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Chengchen; Zhang, Jin; Wang, Xungai; Nguyen, Anh Tuan; Liu, Xiang Yang; Kaplan, David L.
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 13:Issue 47(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-10-27
• Subjects: silkworm silk -- strain‐stiffening property -- structure–property relationship; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201702266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Structure–property relationships of silk is an intriguing topic for silk‐based biomaterials research since these features are related to biomimicking the processing in natural silk fiber formation which results in excellent mechanical properties. Strain‐stiffening is common for spider silks and nonmulberry silkworm silks. However, the structural origin of strain‐stiffening remains unclear. In this paper, the strain‐dependent structural change of Antheraea pernyi silkworm silk is studied by X‐ray fiber diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy under stretching. Based on a combination of mechanical and structural analysis, the molecular origins of strain‐stiffening in A. pernyi silk were determined. The relatively high content of the β‐sheets within the amorphous domains in A. pernyi silk is responsible for strain‐stiffening, where "molecular spindles" enhance the extensibility and toughness of the fiber. Abstract : The strain‐dependent structural change is significantly different between Bombyx mori and Antheraea pernyi silks, where the latter displays a unique strain‐stiffening feature. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray fiber diffraction, the high content of β‐sheets in amorphous domains is identified in the Antheraea pernyi silk that is responsible for strain‐stiffening and enhancing the extensibility and toughness of the fiber.