Physical properties and structure of silk. III. The glass transition and conformational changes of tussah silk fibroin

Abstract

Abstract The glass transition, crystallization, and α–β transition of the Tussah silk fibroin were studied by means of DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and infrared spectroscopy. The endothermic shift due to the glass transition was observed at 162°C. The endothermic peak at 220°C was attributed to the α–β conformational transition from the infrared spectra. The exothermic peak due to the crystallization occurred at 230°C.