• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2007

Recently, natural fiber reinforced composite is attracting attention and considered as an environmentally friendly material. Usually cellulosic fibers are used to reinforce the composites, but some protein fibers such as silk and wool serve the same purpose. In this paper, we proposed a method of producing artistic composite from artistic fabric by using silk fiber reinforced biodegradable plastic, which is designated as 'silk composite', for reinforcement. In order to expand applications of the silk composite, we performed the compression molding of decorative laminates with woody material, which was selected as a core material, and examined the properties of molded decorative laminates with various content of the silk composite. Since plywood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are widely used for decorative laminates, we selected them as core materials. As a result, flexible decorative laminates with high flexural strength were obtained by compounding the silk composite with wood materials.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2022

Wet-spun regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) fibers have been extensively studied owing to their 1) useful properties as biomaterials, including good blood compatibility and cyto-compatibility; 2) the various methods available to control the structural characteristics and morphology of the fiber, and 3) the possibility of fabricating blended fibers and new material-embedded fibers. In this study, silk nanofibrils prepared using a new method were embedded in RSF to fabricate wet-spun silk nanofibril/RSF composite fibers. Up to 2% addition of silk nanofibril, the silk nanofibril/RSF dope solution showed slight shear thinning, and the G' and G" of the dope solution were similar. However, above 3% silk nanofibril content, the viscosity of the dope solution significantly increased. In addition, shear thinning was remarkably evident, and the G' of the dope solution was much higher than the G", indicating a very elastic state. As the silk nanofibril content was increased, the wet-spun silk nanofibril/RSF composite fiber became uneven, with a rough surface, and more beaded fibers were produced. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that the beaded fibers were attributed to the inhomogeneous dispersion and presence of agglomerates of the silk nanofibrils. As the silk nanofibril content and RSF concentration increased, the maximum draw ratio decreased, indicating the deterioration of the wet spinnability and post-drawing performance of silk nanofibril/RSF.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.496-499
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• 1996

In order to develop the functional diet food, characteristics of chitosan and silk fibroin composite was designed. Chitosan extracted from a prawn and silk fibroin was prepared from silkworm. The silk fibroin was dissolved rapidly in the 8M LiBr at a temperature of more than 4$0^{\circ}C$. Amino acid composition of fibroin composite revealed the same pattern that of native silk fibroin and regenerated silk fibroin. Predominant amino acid of chitosan-fibroin composite contained glycine, alanine, serine, tyrosine, threonine, and glutamic acid in order. According to the basis on the infrared spectrum, chitosan-silk fibroin composite is not distinguished differents composite ratio of chitosan and silk fibroin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.228-242
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• 2019

This research investigated the effect of mordants on the degradation of madder dye in silk when silk was treated by the H2O2/UV condition as a laboratory simulation of burial induced degradation. Alum, iron, and alum/iron composite mordanting methods were applied to silk before dyeing with madder dye. Dye extracted from silk was examined using HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. The abundance of the chromatogram peak at 8.88 min retention time was used as the concentration of alizarin pigment in silk. K/S values, CIE $L^{\ast}a^{\ast}b^{\ast}$ values; in addition, Munsell HVC values were obtained using a spectrocolorimeter. The findings indicated that alizarin degraded most severely in silk mordanted by alum/iron composite mordanting than alum mordanting or iron mordanting. Mordanting with alum alone provided a relatively lower dye fixation at the point of dyeing; however, it provided a better survival of alizarin after 12 hours of degradation treatment.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.201-204
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• 1999

The silk/paper mulberry paper was prepared by recycling of the hard twisted silk waste and its mechanical properties was investigated. The silk waste was pretreated with sodium hydroxide(0.5%) and sodium carbonate(4%) to make it easy for beating and fibrillation. The silk/paper mulberry hand sheet paper has better mechanical properties of tearing strength and air permeability compared with the traditional and modified traditional paper. Treating with alkaline solution, the hard twisted silk waste could be used for an novel composite material.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2013

Wet-spun silk fibers have attracted the attention of many researchers because of 1) the unique properties of silk as a biomaterial, including good biocompatibility and cyto-compatability and 2) the various methods available to control the structure and properties of the fiber. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have typically been used as a reinforcing material for natural and synthetic polymers. In this study, CNF-embedded silk fibroin (SF) nanocomposite fibers were prepared for the first time. The effects of CNF content on the rheology of the dope solution and the characteristics of wet-spun CNF/SF composite fibers were also examined. A 5% SF formic acid solution that contained no CNFs showed nearly Newtonian fluid behavior, with slight shear thinning. However, after the addition of 1% CNFs, the viscosity of the dope solution increased significantly, and apparent shear thinning was observed. The maximum draw ratio of the CNF/SF composite fibers decreased as the CNF content increased. Interestingly, the crystallinity index for the silk in the CNF/SF fibers was sequentially reduced as the CNF content was increased. This phenomenon may be due to the fact that the CNFs prevent ${\beta}$-sheet crystallization of the SF by elimination of formic acid from the dope solution during the coagulation process. The CNF/SF composite fibers displayed a relatively smooth surface with stripes, at low magnification (${\times}500$). However, a rugged nanoscale surface was observed at high magnification (${\times}10,000$), and the surface roughness increased with the CNF content.

• Composites Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.196-200
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• 2014

A novel, simple and totally recyclable method has been developed for the synthesis of nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable bio-composite films from soy protein and silk protein. Bio films are defined as flexible films prepared from biological materials such as protein. These materials have potential application in medical and food as a packaging material. Their use depends on various parameters such as mechanical (strength and modulus), thermal, among others. In this study, prepare and characterization of bio films made from Soy Protein Isolate (SPI) (matrix) and Silk Fiber (SF) (reinforcement) through solution casting method by the addition of plasticizer and crosslinking agent. The obtained SPI and SPI/SF composites were subsequently subjected to evaluate their mechanical and thermal properties by using Universal Testing Machine and Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer respectively. The tensile testing showed significant improvements in strength with increasing amount of SF content and the % elongation at break of the composites of the SPI/SF was lower than that of the matrix. Though the interfacial bonding was moderate, the improvement in tensile strength and modulus was attributed to the higher tensile properties of the silk fiber.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.192-200
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) and antibody as that affects the performance of a silk-4HR combination graft for soft tissue augmentation in an animal model. Methods: The silk graft materials consisted of four types: silk+10% tricalcium phosphate (TCP) (ST0), silk+10% TCP+1% 4HR (ST1), silk+10% TCP+3% 4HR (ST3), and silk+10% TCP+6% 4-HR (ST6). The antibody binding assay tested the 4HR effect and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) exam was done for silk grafts. The animal experiment used a subcutaneous pocket mouse model. The graft - SH0 or SH1 or SH3 or SH6 - was placed in a subcutaneous pocket. The animals were killed at one, two, and four weeks, postoperatively. The specimens were subjected to histological analysis and lysozyme assay. Results: Groups with 4HR applied showed lower antibody binding affinity to antigen compared to groups without 4HR. In the SEM examination, there was no significant difference among groups. Histological examinations revealed many foreign body giant cells in ST0 and ST1 group at four weeks postoperatively. Both ST3 and ST6 groups developed significantly lower levels of giant cell values compared to ST0 and ST1 groups (P < 0.001) at four weeks postoperatively. In the lysozyme assay, the ST1 and ST3 groups showed denser signals than the other groups. Conclusion: 4HR combined silk implants resulted in high levels of vascular and connective tissue regeneration.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.459-466
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• 2011

Purpose: This study evaluated the capability of bone formation with silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite/corn starch composite scaffold as a bone defect replacement matrix when grafted in a calvarial bone defect of rabbits $in$ $vivo$. Methods: Ten New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study and bilateral round-shaped defects were formed in the parietal bone (diameter: 8.0 mm). The silk fibroin 10% nano-hydroxyapatite/30% corn starch/60% composite scaffold was grafted into the right parietal bone (experimental group). The left side (control group) was grafted with a nano-hydroxyapatite (30%)/corn starch (70%) scaffold. The animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. A micro-computerized tomography (${\mu}CT$) of each specimen was taken. Subsequently, the specimens were decalcified and stained with Masson's trichrome for histological and histomorphometric analysis. Results: The average ${\mu}CT$ and histomorphometric measures of bone formation were higher in the control group than in the experimental group at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after surgery though not statistically significant ($P$ >0.05). Conclusion: The rabbit calvarial defect was not successfully repaired by silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite/corn starch composite scaffold and may have been due to an inflammatory reaction caused by silk powder. In the future, the development of composite bone graft material based on various components should be performed with caution.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 1996

Cooking of tasar silk cocoon of Deba variety (A. mylitta D.) with tartaric acid has been optimized by using an orthogonal central composite design. Shell weight loss and silk filament recovery are influenced by duration of treatment and acid concentration. Mechanical properties do not change with the process parameters. Hardness of water does not affect significantly the recovery of silk filament.