Analysis of Biodegradability of Silk Threads Embedded in Soil Using Image Processing

摘要

Silk threads if embedded in soil, will be biodegradable by means of the multiplication of microorganism adhering to themselves in the soil. In order to analyze biodegradability of silk threads, we processed electronic microphotographs of the surface and the section of silk fibers which were in the process of being biodegradable, using image processing method. Then we measured characteristic quantities such as changes in the shape of erosion traces, and changes in the shape of the section due to erosion. It was considered that the degree of biodegradation of silk threads could be estimated by the statistical results of these characteristic quantities.