Abstract
In the present study, the tensile properties of silk fibers were determined through single tensile tests. The mechanical properties of silk fiber reinforced polybutylenesuccinate (PBS) biodegradable composites were also studied. The tensile tests of the long fiber unidirectional PBS biodegradable composites with different fiber volume fractions and fiber surface treatments were carried out. The effects of fiber surface treatments on the interfacial shear strength were conducted by pull-out tests. It was found that the effect of fiber surface treatment on the fiber mechanical properties is small. The experimental results showed that the tensile strength of SF/PBS composite increased when using fibers whose 46% of sericin is removed, but the fracture strain is not improved. However both the composite tensile strength and the fracture strain are improved when using fibers with ensui processing.
