Change in Microstructure of Silk Fibers by Treatment with organic Solvents

Abstract

Domestic (Bombyx mori) and wild (Antheraea pemyi) silk fibers were treated with organic solvents at various temperatures, and studied by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that the solvent induced crystallization occurred only in the domestic silk fiber, whereas the small-angle X-ray scattering analysis suggested that the fraction of microvoids was decreased by ethanol or acetic acid treatment in the wild silk fiber.