Production and mechanical properties of fibroin-cellulose blended fiber

Introduction Natural fibers have both desirable and undesirable properties. Silk is lustrous, well dyeable and heat-retaining. It absorbs and releases moisture quickly. Fbbroin also immobilizes enzymes (DEMURA and ASAKURA,1989), helps living cells multiply on it (MINOURA et al., 1995) and slowly diffuses medication (CHEN et al., 1990). Thus, silk is a promising material for a functional polymer as well as for clothes; however, it is inferior to another natural fiber, cotton, in some respects such as heat-resistance and friction resistance properties. Although cotton doesn't appear to be functional, it is tough and appears to be useful as a supporting material. This study has been carried out to determine the feasibility of a new material for textile fibers and functional substances by combining these two characteristic natural polymers: fibroin and cotton. Materials and Methods