This study aims to analyze a vibration mode of fibroin in silk fiber quantitatively, and to create a new identification method of fibers using terahertz transmission spectroscopic analysis.
Terahertz spectroscopic analyses of 9 types of silks (4 types of domesticated silks and 5 types of wild silks) were carried out. Although it was difficult to distinguish between the domesticated silks, distinct spectral difference was obtained between the domesticated silks and wild silks. This may be originated from the difference of intermolecular linkage.
Terahertz spectroscopic analysis of fibers from boiled cocoons of domesticated silkworms has been demonstrated. The result revealed that the condition of boiling affected terahertz spectra, and the difference of the spectra was thought to be due to residual amount of sericin when boiled, indicating the possibility of evaluating the residual content of sericin in silk fibers.
