The effects of electrical discharge on the mechanical properties of Bombyx mori silk fibroin

Abstract

Bombyx Mori is a representative of natural fibers which is known for its mechanical stability. In this study, electrical discharge of the fibers exposed to different voltages for certain periods was examined and mechanical lifetime was measured and also the structure parameters U-o and gamma were calculated. We observed that crosslinks might be formed at the silk fibers exposed to high voltages and as a result, fibers become more resistant to mechanical effects.