Comparative thermal analysis of Eri, Mori, Muga, and Tussar silk cocoons and fibroin fibers

Wild silks are often extremely durable and have many advantages over the domesticated silk. In this study, three kinds of wild silks-Indian Antheraea mylitta (Tussar), Antheraea assama (Muga), and Philosamia ricini (Eri) silkworm cocoons were successfully degummed and their thermal properties were studied comparatively with domesticated Chinese mulberry (Bombyx mori) silkworm cocoons and fibers. Advanced thermal analysis methods, such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature- modulated DSC were utilized to identify glass transition temperatures (T_g), heat capacity increments at T _g, and degradation temperatures of these silk materials. In addition, the bound water contents and the thermal degradation mechanisms of different silk systems were also quantified using thermogravimetric analysis. Compared with the mulberry silk materials, wild silk materials showed higher thermal stabilities, and variable degradation profiles. These comparative methods would offer a new pathway to understand the physical properties of silk-based biomaterials, such as their tunable thermal, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties. And it could provide useful insights for the development of new silk-based medical devices and sutures with controllable biological functions in the future.