Forcibly Spinning Using Bombyx Mori Silkworm Anesthetized by the Water Narcosis Treatment

Abstract

Herein, the anesthetization of Bombyx mori silkworms via the water narcosis treatment by soaking in room-temperature water for 1 h was found effective in keeping the tensile strength of its forcibly spun silk filament comparable to that of naturally spun silks. However, at a treatment time of 3 h, a marked decrease in the tensile strength of the forcibly spun filaments was observed owing to the interference of the applied force in the forcibly spinning with the inherent naturally spinning system of Bombyx mori silkworms. Compared with naturally spun cocoon filaments, evidence of disordering in the crystal modification of silk fibroin by the forcibly spinning suggests that variations to the forcibly spinning conditions may affect the quality of the silkworm fibers.

Keywords

• silk
• forcibly spinning
• silkworm
• water narcosis
• crystal modification
• tensile strength