title: Mechanical behaviour and formation process of silkworm silk gut.
abstract: High performance silk fibers were produced directly from the silk glands of silkworms (Bombyx mori) following an alternative route to natural spinning. This route is based on a traditional procedure that consists of soaking the silk glands in a vinegar solution and stretching them by hand leading to the so called silkworm guts. Here we present, to the authors' best knowledge, the first comprehensive study on the formation, properties and microstructure of silkworm gut fibers. Comparison of the tensile properties and microstructural organization of the silkworm guts with those of naturally spun fibers allows gain of a deeper insight into the mechanisms that lead to the formation of the fiber, as well as the relationship between the microstructure and properties of these materials. In this regard, it is proved that an acidic environment and subsequent application of tensile stress in the range of 1000 kPa are sufficient conditions for the formation of a silk fiber.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, 30150 La Alberca (Murcia), Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cenis
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain and Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jperez@mater.upm.es.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madurga
authors.affiliation: Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, 30150 La Alberca (Murcia), Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Aznar-Cervantes
authors.affiliation: Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, 30150 La Alberca (Murcia), Spain.
authors.forename: A Abel
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lozano-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain and Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jperez@mater.upm.es.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marí-Buyé
authors.affiliation: Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and Hospital Universitario "Virgen de la Arrixaca", 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meseguer-Olmo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain and Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jperez@mater.upm.es.
authors.forename: Gustavo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Plaza
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain and Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jperez@mater.upm.es.
authors.forename: Gustavo V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Guinea
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain and Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jperez@mater.upm.es.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elices
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Pozo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain and Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jperez@mater.upm.es.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Rigueiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx; D047011:Silk / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D047011:Silk