Session D40 - Poster Session I.
POSTER session, Monday afternoon, March 12
Exhibit Hall, Washington State Convention Center
Although silk has been used for more than 5,000 years, interest in membranes has grown only in recent decades. Silk membranes have considerable potential as materials for photovoltaic and photochromic devices as well as for controlled release, growing cells, etc. Despite the scientific and technological potential of these materials, not much work has been done regarding the fine scale morphology. Membranes of Bombyx mori have been cast with liquid silk from the middle part of the gland, as well as from solution made from the fibroin in fibers. They were annealed over a range of temperatures and examined by AFM. The initial observation revealed a broad range of morphologies. These include individual particles, densely packed grains, nanofibrils and irregular structure. The effect of casting temperatures on morphological features will be shown.