Forcibly Spinning Using Bombyx Mori Silkworm Anesthetized by the Water Narcosis Treatment

ABSTRACT

Herein, the anesthetization of Bombyx mori silkworms via the water narcosis treatment by soaking in room-temperature water for 1 h was found effective in keeping the tensile strength of its forcibly spun silk filament comparable to that of naturally spun silks. However, at a treatment time of 3 h, a marked decrease in the tensile strength of the forcibly spun filaments was observed owing to the interference of the applied force in the forcibly spinning with the inherent naturally spinning system of Bombyx mori silkworms. Compared with naturally spun cocoon filaments, evidence of disordering in the crystal modification of silk fibroin by the forcibly spinning suggests that variations to the forcibly spinning conditions may affect the quality of the silkworm fibers.

摘要

结果表明在室温水中浸泡1h对Bombyx mori家蚕进行水麻醉处理能有效地保持其强纺丝的拉伸强度与天然丝相当. 然而在3小时的处理时间内由于强制纺纱中施加的力与 Bombyx mori 家蚕固有的自然纺纱系统的干扰观察到强制纺纱细丝的拉伸强度显著降低.与自然纺的蚕茧丝相比强力纺对蚕丝蛋白晶体改性的无序现象表明强力纺条件的变化可能会影响蚕丝的质量.

KEYWORDS:

• Silk
• forcibly spinning
• silkworm
• water narcosis
• crystal modification
• tensile strength

关键词:

• 丝绸
• 用力旋转
• 家蚕
• 水麻醉
• 晶体改性
• 拉伸强度

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ms. Ayumi Sato and Mr. Shuto Kitajima, our graduate and undergraduate school students, for their efforts on forcibly spinning and EPMA measurements.