Abstract:

In order to study the relationship between the degumming process and silk dissolution and fiber formation, the influence of the conecntration of degumming solution and degumming times on degumming rate, silk surface morphology and fibroin solubility and the structure and properties of regenerated silk fibroin fiber were investigated. The results indicat that the degumming rate incerase with the increase of the concentration of degumming solution and degumming times. When the concentration of Na2CO3 is 0.1% and degumming is performed for 3 times, fibrils obviously appear on the surface of degummed sild fiber, with the breaking strength decreasing by 27.6%. The degree of removal of sericin has an impact on the dissolution process and the structure of regrnerated sild fibroin. The dissolving time decreases with the increase of the concentration of degumming solution and degumming times. When the concentration of Na2CO3 is 0.05% adn degumming is performed for 3 times, the obatined regrnerated silk fibroin fiber bas smooth surface, compact structure and good mechanical peoperties.

Key words: degumming process, regenerated silk fibroin fiber, degumming rate, silk