Correlation between microstructure and microrheological parameters of various silk fibres

Abstract

The changes in microcrystalline parameters of raw wild varieties of silk fibres, like tasar, muga and eri, have been studied using wide angle X-ray scattering technique and a line profile analysis. A method involving an exponential distribution has been used to compute the microstructural parameters for the crystallite. In addition, a home-built open microscope set-up is also used for determining the microrheological parameters for all the three silk varieties in solution form. A comparative study reveals interesting correlations in the relative strengths of the varieties of silk fibres in both crystalline form and in solution. Further, the findings also reveal that muga is stiffer than the other non-mulberry silk varieties and this is observed in both the forms.