A Study of the Structure and Properties of Male Silk

摘要

A new silk grade has been developed by separating silk cocoons according to gender using Ultra violet light (U-V) skill. Silk fibers from male cocoons structure and properties were tested using modern instruments which included the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Thermo Gravimetric and Differential Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TG-DTA) and single silk strength tester. Male silk fibers were found to pose superior physical properties, such as orientation degree, heat resisting properties and fracture strength. The superior properties of male silk fibers are set to expand the application of silk fibers.