The Analysis and Comparison of the Needle-puncture Property of Four Types of Silkworm Cocoons

Abstract

Silkworm cocoons display outstanding properties in many aspects, such as thermal protection, biocompatibility and mechanical resistance and so on. In this paper, we focus on the puncture properties without detailed exploration of four types of cocoons (three domesticated cocoon and Eri silkworm). Different sections, end and middle, as well as different directions, puncturing from inner and outer surface, of four types of aforementioned cocoons were systematically analyzed and compared. The results of present research show that the middle section exhibits a relatively greater needle-puncture resistance compare with end section for three B. mori silkworm cocoons. With regard to different puncture directions, from external and internal surface, puncturing from internal surface exhibits a relatively higher needle-puncture load as well as fracture displacement tendencies compared with needle-puncture performance from external surface no matter in middle or end sections. Combining physical parameter assessment, statistical analysis and needle-puncture performance, this research inspires a clear-cut frame to design a composite with high puncture resistance.