To synthesize novel modified fibers from waste silk fibroin

gamma-ray induced graft of acrylonitrile onto silk fibroin in the solution of 60% ZnCl2 was carried out. The effects of absorbed dose

dose rate

copper ion

silk fibroin contents

monomer concentrations and “post effect” on monomer conversion

percentage grafting

grafting efficiency and average molecular weight of grafting polymer were examined. The grafting products were characterized with IR

TGA

DTA and other methods.It was found and discussed that the initial grafting efficiency is mainly determined by [S]/[S]+[M]

where [S] and [M] are the concentrations of silk fibroin and monomer

respectively.Futhermore

the graft efficiency increases with the increase of absorbed dose.It was noticed that the existence of Cu2+ has a staong inhibition effect on the molecular weight of grafted chain

and almost no effect on percentage grafting and grafting efficiency.The thermodynamic properties of grafting products were much better than those of natural silk.