Abstract
Unlike the traditional methods of silk restoration based on the application of synthetic polymers, transglutaminase-mediated polymerization was used as a compatible and innocuous method to reinforce the aged silk fabrics. Artificially aged (dry thermal ageing) silk samples were restored using this method. The optimal experimental conditions of the treatment were determined by orthogonal experiment. The effects of the reaction on silk fibers were investigated by tensile tests, TGA and SDS-PAGE. The results showed that tensile strength, elongation rate at breakage and thermal stability of the silk samples were remarkably improved by using this method. Biopolymers with a molecular weight of more than 260 kDa were formed in the reaction. From the results of this study, the potential of transglutaminase-mediated polymerization to restore historic silk was demonstrated.
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