Post-spin Stretch Improves Mechanical Properties, Reduces Necking, and Reverts Effects of Aging in Biomimetic Artificial Spider Silk Fibers

Sammanfattning

Recent biotechnological advancements in protein production and development of biomimetic spinning procedures make artificial spider silk a promising alternative to petroleum-based fibers. To enhance the competitiveness of artificial silk in terms of mechanical properties, refining the spinning techniques is imperative. One potential strategy involves the integration of post-spin stretching, known to improve fiber strength and stiffness while potentially offering additional advantages. Here, we demonstrate that post-spin stretching not only enhances the mechanical properties of artificial silk fibers but also restores a higher and more uniform alignment of the protein chains, leading to a higher fiber toughness. Additionally, fiber properties may be reduced by processes, such as aging, that cause increased network entropy. Post-spin stretching was found to partially restore the initial properties of fibers exposed aging. Finally, we propose to use the degree of necking as a simple measure of fiber quality in the development of spinning procedures for biobased fibers.

Nyckelord

wet-spinning; protein fibers; biobased fibers; polymeric fibers; polymeric materials

Publicerad i

ACS Applied Polymer Materials
2024, volym: 6, nummer: 23, sidor: 14342-14350
Utgivare: AMER CHEMICAL SOC

SLU författare

• Greco, Gabriele

  • Institutionen för husdjurens biovetenskaper, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Schmuck, Benjamin

  • Institutionen för husdjurens biovetenskaper, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Rising, Anna

  • Institutionen för husdjurens biovetenskaper, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Textil-, gummi- och polymermaterial

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.4c02192

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139450