The Preparation and Characterization of Bombyx Mori Silk Nanocomposites Using Ionic Liquids

Silk is one of the most desirable textile fibers due to its unprecedented flexibility, strength, and chemical resistance. Recent work has shown that ionic liquids possess great potential for dissolving and processing silk. Furthermore, ionic liquids have been shown to improve dispersion of nanoparticles throughout conventional polymer networks. In our current work, we have used imidazolium based ionic liquids to dissolve silk and disperse clay, carbon nanotubes, and chitin using film casting, wet spinning, and electrospinning techniques. The structural characteristics and morphology were determined using x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to assess the potential benefits of adding nanocomposites to silk fibers and films. It was determined that carbon nanotubes offer the best potential for improving the thermal properties of silk