Silk fibroin was modified with ethylene oxide (EO) under an ordinary pressure. The relationship between chemical and physical properties of the EO-combined products and the reaction conditions was investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows:
(1) When NaOH is used as a catalyst, the reaction rate decreases as the reaction temperature is raised. The maximum amount of combined EO is attained in 5 hr. when the reaction is carried out at 30°C., and the amount decreases significantly thereafter. This is considered to be due to the disruption and solution of the amorphous region of the sample.
(2) When SnCl
4 is used as a catalyst, the reaction of EO with fibroin is slow. Pre-swollen samples show considerable increase in the reactivity. The amount of combined EO increases as the reaction temperature is raised. The amount increases with the increase in the concentration of the catalyst, and reaches a definite maximum, and then decreases gradually.
(3) Dyeing behavior of the EO-treated samples is compared with the untreated one. The samples treated with EO in the presence of NaOH adsorb an acid dye, Acid Blue Black, less than the untreated, while the samples treated in the presence of SnCl
4 adsorb the dye more. The samples obtained by the treatment with either NaOH or SnCl
4 as catalyst adsorb a basic dye, Nile Blue A, slightly less than the untreated fibroin.
(4) The degree of moisture absorption of the EO-combined products decreases as the amount of combined EO increases.
(5) When NaOH is used as a catalyst, both the tensile strength and the elongation of the EO-treated silk fibroin decrease remarkably as the reaction proceeds longer and the reaction temperature is raised. When SnCl
4 catalyst is used. the tensile strength increases slightly and the elongation decrease.
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