Effect of heat treatment on the structural and conformational changes of regenerated <i>Antheraea pernyi</i> silk fibroin films

Abstract

Abstract Regenerated Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin films prepared from calcium nitrate solution were treated with heat for crystallization. The structural and conformational changes caused by heat treatment were investigated with X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The temperature and treatment time of heat greatly influenced the conformation of the regenerated films. The conformational change was caused by heat treatment over 230°C, and the transition was enhanced by increasing time and temperature. The contents of α‐helix, β‐sheet, and random‐coil conformations were calculated and examined to investigate the effect of heat treatment on the conformational changes. The β‐sheet structure could be transformed from a random‐coil conformation on heat treatment, whereas the content of α‐helix structure was nearly unchanged, regardless of heat‐treatment conditions. © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2271–2276, 2001