Studies on some physical properties and structural characteristics of methyl methacrylate‐grafted silk fiber

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Abstract
Structural characteristics and physical properties of methyl methacrylate‐grafted silk fiber from Bombyx mori were studied by X‐ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Methyl methacrylate (MMA)‐grafted silk fiber with a grafting yield of more than 30% showed two endothermic peaks at 320°C and 390–410°C, which are attributed to the thermal decomposition of silk fibroin and MMA polymer filled in the fiber, respectively. These DSC results indicate that MMA‐grafted silk fiber showed a poor compatibility in the relation between the silk fibroin molecules and MMA polymer. The weight of the MMA‐grafted silk fiber decreased as observed at 160°C on the thermogravimetric thermograms due to the evaporation of water from the sample with increasing graft yield. The crystalline structure of MMA‐grafted silk fiber remained unchanged regardless of MMA grafting. Taking into account the X‐ray diffraction patterns and the increasing graft yield with reaction time, it is assumed that the graft chains of MMA polymer have penetrated into a weak aggregate region and not in the crystalline region of silk fibroin.