Thermal characterization of social vespid silk |
| |
Authors: | Golodnitsky Diana Ulus Avi Ishay Jacob S |
| |
Institution: | (1) School of Chemistry and the Wolfson Applied Materials Research Center, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 69978, Israel;(2) Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 69978, Israel |
| |
Abstract: | In this paper we try to establish a link between the microclimate in the wasp nest and the structure and thermal stability
of vespid silk. We suggest that there are at least two types of water that is absorbed by the silk of Oriental hornets, namely,
surface water and intrinsic structural water. The release of both types of water was found to be reversible. The enthalpy
values of the endothermic peaks associated with the release of water from different silk samples do not differ substantially
and are in the range of 106 to 130 J g-1 for the Vespa orientalis male larvae silk (sample #1), Paravespula germanica (yellowjacket) worker larvae silk (#3) and Vespa orientalis nest envelope(#4). For the Vespa orientalis worker larvae silk (sample #2), however, it is twice as large (228 J g-1). This is in agreement with the increased total amount of absorbed water. The silk studied has a fibrilar structure with
interconnecting surfaces overlying entire regions. It is assumed that the initial water loss stems from water evaporation
from the coat of the fibers - a daily occurrence in the hornets' nest. Heating to above 70°C may result in structural changes
in the silk core.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
Keywords: | thermal characterization vespid silk |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|