title: pH induced changes in the rheology of silk fibroin solution from the middle division of Bombyx mori silkworm.
abstract: The rheological properties of fibroin silk solutions extracted from the middle division of Bombyx mori silkworms were examined. Acidification of the solutions with acetic acid vapor gelled the material, a process which at short time scales could be reversed by exposure to ammonia vapor. The solution could also be converted to sol from the gel state by the addition of EDTA. The possible mechanisms for gel formation in fibroin solutions is discussed as are the implications for the process of spinning silk fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vollrath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry*; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012212:Rheology; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D005349:Fibroins