Abstract
The changes in micro-structural parameters in silk fibres due to stifling of cocoons have been studied using wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) method. The crystal imperfection parameters like crystal size <N>, lattice distortion (g) and enthalpy (α*) has been determined by Fourier analysis and also by matching the simulated intensity profile obtained from one-dimensional Hosemann’s paracrystalline model using (201) reflection observed in these silk fibres. The volume weighted crystal sizes have been estimated and compared. The variations of tenacity and elongation results justify the X-ray results reported here.
