Blends of acrylic polymer (containing acrylonitrile 91.7%, methyl acrylate 7%, and sodium methyl propenyl sulfonate 1.3% [wt %], denoted as PAC) with silk fibroin (SF) were studied in the form of drawn fibers with varied compositions. The strength, elongation, and specific work of rupture of the blend fibers decrease with increase of the SF content, whereas the modulus has a slight increase up to 20% (wt) SF and then decreases. With the addition of up to 30% (wt %) SF in the PAC matrix, the moisture absorption increases from 2.06 to 6.2% in comparison with the PAC. Scanning electron microscopy studies show that the blend fibers have a sheath-core structure, with SF mainly in the sheath and PAC in the core. FTIR, ATR, and X-ray diffraction results of the blend fibers are also presented.
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