I&EC 178 |
| The properties of silk from the silkworm Bombyx mori are quite remarkable considering that the silkworm processes its silk at ambient conditions in an aqueous solution and the mechanical properties of the silk rival synthetic materials that are processed using organic solvents under harsh conditions.[1] We are exploring alternative processing methodologies for silk that will possibly expand its applications. It has been shown previously that dialkyl- and trialkylimidazolium based ionic liquids can directly dissolve silkworm cocoon silk to form stable solutions in contrast to other dissolution methods that require a time-intensive, multi step process.[2] These ionic liquid silk solutions have been used to generate both films [2] and fibers.[3] In this work, we further examine the processing conditions required to produce silk fibers from ionic liquid solutions. [1] D.L. Kaplan, S.J. Lombardi, W. Muller, S. Fossey, in Biomaterials from Biological Sources (Ed: D. Byrom), Stockton Press, New York 1991. [2] D.M. Phillips, L.F. Drummy, D.G. Conrady, D.M. Fox, R.R. Naik, M.O. Stone, P.C. Trulove, H.C. De Long, and R.A. Mantz, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126(44), 14350-14351. |
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Ionic Liquids: Not Just Solvents Anymore OR Ionic Liquids: Parallel Futures (Sponsored by Green Chemistry and Engineering, Separation Science and Technology and Novel Chemistry with Industrial Applications Sub-Divisions)
8:15 AM-12:30 PM, Monday, 27 March 2006 Georgia World Congress Center -- B314, Oral
Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry |