High-toughness natural polymer nonwoven preforms inspired by silkworm cocoon structure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable, eco-friendly materials drives research into natural polymers.
• Natural fibers like jute offer advantages such as low cost, abundance, and biodegradability.
• Challenges in natural fiber composites include poor interfacial adhesion and water resistance, often necessitating synthetic binders with potential toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop robust and rigid natural polymer nonwoven preforms using jute fibers and silk sericin (SS) as a binder.
• To enhance the mechanical properties and moisture stability of natural fiber-based composites.
• To explore a sustainable and non-toxic alternative to formaldehyde-based binders.

Main Methods:

• Mixing jute fibers with silk sericin (SS) to create nonwoven preforms.
• Characterizing the mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation, toughness) of the resulting composites.
• Evaluating the structural stability of the preforms in moisture environments.

Main Results:

• Silk sericin acted as an effective natural binder, significantly improving interfacial adhesion between jute fibers.
• Tensile strength, elongation, and toughness increased by up to 539.1%, 385.7%, and 1943.8%, respectively, compared to pristine jute nonwovens.
• The SS coating resulted in a dense, rigid structure, enhancing structural stability in humid conditions.

Conclusions:

• Silk sericin is a promising natural binder for creating high-performance, stable natural polymer composites from jute fibers.
• The developed silkworm cocoon-structured preforms exhibit excellent mechanical strength and physical stability.
• These eco-friendly composites hold significant potential for various applications in the composite material field.