Low‐angle x‐ray fine structure investigation of tussah protein fiber

Abstract

AbstractLow‐angle x‐ray methods have been used to evaluate some macromolecular parameters of the scattering particles in tussah, a silk fiber. A low‐angle Kratky camera of recent design has been used for the experimental measurements of the scattering intensities. The sample under investigation is taken as a densely packed colloidal system belonging to general micelle system and the well known theories of Kratky and Kratky and Porod have been utilized. The parameters determined are specific inner surface of the dispersed phase (O/V), transverse lengths like the length of inhomogeneity (lr) and the length of coherence (lc), and the air fraction of the scattering particles in tussah fiber; these were found to be 7.084 × 10−6 Å−1, 100.6 Å, 367.7 Å, and 0.02%, respectively.