Novel Sericin/Viscose Rayon-Based Biocomposite: Preparation and Characterization

ABSTRACT

Biocomposite film of viscose rayon filament (VF) and sericin was prepared by a solvent casting method. Sericin was extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons and was used as a matrix, in which viscose rayon filaments were used as a reinforcing material. Different amount of VF (i.e., 15, 20, and 25 wt.%) were used in the biocomposites manufacturing. The effect of various amounts of VF on the mechanical properties of sericin-viscose rayon biocomposite (SVB) were characterized by tensile tests. Moreover, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM analysis were performed to investigate the thermal behavior, the crystallinity and the morphology of the resulting biocomposites, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation at break increased with increasing loading of VF in the matrix. The tensile modulus of the composite films showed a linear, additive dependence on the mixing ratio. The strong hydrogen bonding between sericin and VF was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The decomposition temperature of SVB was higher than VF and sericin indicating its enhanced thermal stability. VF was uniformly impregnated in the sericin matrix as confirmed by the SEM analysis. Resultant biocomposite can find application in various fields like medical textile, automobile, etc.

摘要

采用溶剂浇铸法制备粘胶长丝（VF）和丝胶的生物复合膜。以丝胶蛋白为原料Bombyx Mori蚕茧, 采用粘胶粘胶长丝作为增强材料,在生物复合材料中采用不同的VF(即15, 20和25重量%)。通过拉伸试验，研究了不同用量的VF对丝胶粘胶人造丝复合材料（SVB）力学性能的影响。此外，FTIR、TGA、XRD和SEM分析分别对所得生物复合材料的热行为、结晶度和形态进行了研究。随着基体中VF含量的增加，拉伸强度和断裂伸长率增加。复合膜的拉伸模量表现出线性、添加剂对混合比的依赖性。通过FTIR分析证实了丝胶与VF之间的强氢键结合。SVB的分解温度高于VF和丝胶，表明其增强的热稳定性。VF均匀地浸渍在丝胶基质中，如SEM分析所证实的。所得生物复合材料可应用于医疗纺织品、汽车等各个领域。

KEYWORDS:

• Bombyx mori cocoons
• sericin
• viscose rayon filament
• biocomposite
• thermal stability
• tensile strength

关键词:

• 蚕茧
• 丝胶蛋白
• 粘胶长丝
• 生物复合材料
• 热稳定性
• 抗拉强度

Additional information

Funding

Author would like to thank the World Bank-funded TEQIP-II-CoE in Process Intensification, and the DST-FIST for providing testing facilities.