Li Mengru, Luo Jie, Xiong Yi, Wu Jisong
School of Fine Arts & Design, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
School of Textile Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China.
Polymers (Basel). 2022 Jul 29;14(15):3072. doi: 10.3390/polym14153072.
As a unique and important biopolymer composite, silkworm cocoons have evolved a wide range of different structures and combinations of physical and chemical properties to resist environmental damage and attacks from natural predators. A combination of characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy, mechanical tests, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied to investigate the morphologies, mechanical properties, and nanoscale organizations of Antheraea pernyi cocoons from two different source regions. Mechanical tests were carried out by using rectangular specimens cut from four directions 0° (width of the cocoons), ±45°, and 90° (the length of the cocoon), separately. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, initial modulus, and maximum load of cocoon in four directions were measured. The structural analysis of silkworm cocoon shows that there is a slightly different combination of morphology and properties that have adapted to coping with diverse local environments. The results of the mechanical properties of silkworm cocoons show that the A. pernyi cocoon from north of China behaved stronger and tougher. Besides, there were slight differences among the results of mechanical properties for 0°, ±45°, and 90° directions of these cocoons. Our studies will help formulate bio-inspired design principles for new materials.
作为一种独特且重要的生物聚合物复合材料，蚕茧进化出了广泛多样的结构以及物理和化学性质的组合，以抵御环境破坏和自然捕食者的攻击。应用包括扫描电子显微镜、力学测试和傅里叶变换红外光谱在内的多种表征技术，来研究来自两个不同产地的柞蚕茧的形态、力学性能和纳米级组织结构。力学测试分别使用从0°（茧的宽度方向）、±45°和90°（茧的长度方向）四个方向切割的矩形试样进行。测量了茧在四个方向上的拉伸强度、初始模量和最大载荷等力学性能。蚕茧的结构分析表明，其形态和性能存在略有不同的组合，以适应不同的当地环境。蚕茧力学性能的结果表明，中国北方的柞蚕茧表现得更强韧。此外，这些茧在0°、±45°和90°方向的力学性能结果之间存在细微差异。我们的研究将有助于为新材料制定仿生设计原则。
