Effects of Fabric Structures on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of Poly(ϵ-Caprolactone)/Silk Fabric Biocomposites

Abstract

To develop novel biocomposites, three different types of silk fibroin (SF) fabrics were, respectively, blended with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) by a solution blending method. The effects of fabric structures on the mechanical and structural properties of PCL/SF biocomposites were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy photographs showed that SF were linked with PCL matrix. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction curves showed that PCL/SF biocomposites had higher crystallinity than pure PCL. Differential scanning calorimetry results indicated that the addition of three different types of silk fabrics changed the values of relevant thermodynamic parameter of PCL/SF biocomposites.

Keywords:

• poly(ϵ-caprolactone)
• silk fabrics
• biocomposites
• fabric structures
• mechanical properties
• structural properties