Physical properties of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐grafted silk fibers

Abstract

AbstractThis paper deals with the physical properties of silk fibers grafted with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Both tensile strength and elongation measured in the dry and wet states gradually decreased with increasing weight gain. The initial modulus of the grafted silk fibers in the dry state sharply increased in the weight gain range of 0–16%, then decreased to a lower value than the reference untreated sample. The refractive indices parallel and perpendicular to the fiber axis decreased, though the former showed a steeper slope. Accordingly, birefringence and isotropic refractive index also decreased, suggesting a lower degree of crystallinity and molecular orientation of grafted silk fibers. DSC, TMA, and TGA curves of the HEMA‐grafted silk fibers indicated an increased higher thermal stability of silk fibers due to the HEMA grafting. The dynamic mechanical measurements showed that the thermally induced molecular movement of both amorphous and crystalline domains of silk fibers was enhanced by HEMA grafting. X‐ray diffraction curves, however, implied that the crystalline structure of the silk fibroin remained unchanged regardless of HEMA polymerization. The introduction of HEMA polymer in silk fibers was evidenced by the infrared spectra, exhibiting the absorption bands characteristic of either the grafted HEMA polymer and the fibroin molecules with ordered β structure. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.