Post-spin Stretch Improves Mechanical Properties, Reduces Necking, and Reverts Effects of Aging in Biomimetic Artificial Spider Silk Fibers

Abstract

Recent biotechnological advancements in protein production and development of biomimetic spinning procedures make artificial spider silk a promising alternative to petroleum-based fibers. To enhance the competitiveness of artificial silk in terms of mechanical properties, refining the spinning techniques is imperative. One potential strategy involves the integration of post-spin stretching, known to improve fiber strength and stiffness while potentially offering additional advantages. Here, we demonstrate that post-spin stretching not only enhances the mechanical properties of artificial silk fibers but also restores a higher and more uniform alignment of the protein chains, leading to a higher fiber toughness. Additionally, fiber properties may be reduced by processes, such as aging, that cause increased network entropy. Post-spin stretching was found to partially restore the initial properties of fibers exposed aging. Finally, we propose to use the degree of necking as a simple measure of fiber quality in the development of spinning procedures for biobased fibers.

Keywords

wet-spinning; protein fibers; biobased fibers; polymeric fibers; polymeric materials

Published in

ACS Applied Polymer Materials
2024, volume: 6, number: 23, pages: 14342-14350
Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC

SLU Authors

• Greco, Gabriele

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Schmuck, Benjamin

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rising, Anna

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.4c02192

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139450