Properties of silk fibers modified with diethylene glycol dimethacrylate

Abstract

A self-prepared novel bifunctional vinyl monomer diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA-2) was graft copolymerized onto silk fibers initiated by potassium persulfate (KPS). The moisture regain and fiber fineness of grafted silk fibers increased linearly with graft yield. The enhancement of hygroscopicity can improve the comfort of silk fabrics. The grafting conditions caused a partial degradation of the tensile strength of silk fibers, as well as the whiteness. Elongation at break increased and initial modulus decreased, which indicated that the rigidity of silk fibers declined. Stress relaxation behavior shows that grafted silk fibers have better viscoelasticity than control silk fibers. Wrinkle recovery angle tests showed that grafted silk fabrics had better wrinkle resistance property. Laundering durability test showed that with increasing graft yield, the damage to the silk fibers during laundering decreased obviously.

Flame retardancy finish with an organophosphorus retardant on silk fabrics

“…The reaction between the flame retardant and silk only occurs in the amorphous region of the silk fibre [1,14], a result which is consistent with the result of amino content analysis.…”

Silk grafting with methacrylic monomers: Process optimization and comparison

“…Moreover difunctional monomers such as diethyleneglycol-and polyethyleneglycol-dimethacrylates were successfully applied to graft silk fibers and significant wet crease recovery was achieved. 34 Some of them were tested also in this work since higher values of reactivity and graft yield than those obtained with monomethacrylates should be expected.…”

Structural characteristics and properties of Bombyx mori silk fiber obtained by different artificial forcibly silking speeds

“…Among natural and synthetic fibers, silk occupies a leading position for its unique properties, such as water absorption, heat retention, handling, luster, comfort, brilliant color shades obtained by dyeing and printing, etc. [4]. Besides its use as a textile fiber, it has been considered as starting raw materials for non-textile applications, especially in the biomedical, cosmetic and biotechnological fields, such as surgical suture, wound cover materials, controlled drug release carriers, tissue engineering scaffolds and repair materials for skins, bones, ligaments, etc.…”