Characterization of Raw Silk Fibers Obtained by Feeding Silkworms with Protein Powder

摘要

High-strength raw silk fibers were obtained by feeding the silkworm larvae with a modified feed containing down-powder. The relationship between different content of down-powder and the mechanical properties of raw silk fibers was studied. Furthermore, the morphology, chemical structures, crystallinity, and thermal properties of raw silk fibers with and without modification were also investigated. The results suggest that the tensile strength of raw silk fibers could be increased by 27% through feeding the silkworm larvae with a modified feed containing 4 wt% down-powder while keeping the original chemical structure and thermal properties of raw silk fibers.