The Study of Properties of Partially Dissolved Silk Fibroin Fibers Modified by Rare Earth Chloride

Abstract

The silk fibroin (SF) fiber and the partially dissolved silk fibroin (PD SF) fiber from the Bombyx mori silkworm were treated with a rare earth (RE), lanthanum trichloride (LaCl₃) aqueous solution, and the structure and physical properties were investigated to elucidate the effects of the RE treatment. This study aims to find a new approach that can improve the natural shortcomings of silk fibers (e.g., poor shrink resistance) and to modify the silk fiber using a rare earth.