X-ray Studies of Silk Fibres

Abstract

X-ray studies were made of a Bombyx mori type of silk and of a Tussah silk. Differences in the diffractive properties of the fibroin components of these silks are recorded. Diffraction bands were found for the sericin components of each type of silk, show ing that this component also exists on the fibre in a partially crystalline condition but with a lower degree of crystallite orien tation than is exhibited by the fibroin component. The positions of the observed sericin bands are different for each type of silk. Comparison of the diffraction patterns of hard and soft silks of the Bombyx mori type showed no significant difference between them.