Effect of coagulation agents on morphology and structure of cellulose/silk fibroin films with 1-butyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride as solvent. (July 2014) - Mukuze, K. S.
Abstract : Cellulose/silk blend solutions were prepared in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM]Cl and films were subsequently formed from coagulation baths. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were carried out to compare the influence of coagulation agents on the weight content of silk fibroin ( w SF), secondary structure and morphology of cellulose/silk blend films. Rough and scaly films were formed due to rapid crystallisation induced by ethanol. When films were coagulated in acetonitrile, a change from random coil to β-sheet structure of silk fibroin and from cellulose I to cellulose II of cellulose occurred favourably. When blend films were coagulated in water, there was a protein component extraction which diffused into the coagulation bath.