Structure and molecular conformation of tussah silk fibroin films treated with water–methanol solutions: Dynamic mechanical and thermomechanical behavior

The thermal response of tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin films treated with different water–methanol solutions at 20°C was studied by means of dynamic mechanical (DMA) and thermomechanical (TMA) analyses as a function of methanol concentration and treatment time. The DMA curves of α-helix films (treated with ≥80% v/v methanol for 2 min and 100% methanol for 30 min) showed the sharp fall of storage modulus at about 190°C, and the loss peak in the range 207–213°C. The TMA curves were characterized by a thermal shrinkage at 209–211°C, immediately followed by an abrupt extension leading to film failure. Both storage and loss modulus curves significantly shifted upwards for β-sheet films, obtained by treatment with ≤60% methanol for 30 min. The loss peak exhibited a maximum at 236°C. Accordingly, the TMA shrinkage at above 200°C disappeared. The films broke beyond 330°C, failure being preceded by a broad contraction step. Intermediate DMA and TMA patterns were observed for the other solvent-treated films. The loss peak shifted to higher temperature (219–220°C), and a minor loss modulus component appeared at about 230°C. This coincided with the onset of a plateau region in the storage modulus curve. The TMA extension–contraction events in the range 200–300°C weakened, and the samples displayed a final broad contraction (peak temperature 326–338°C) before breaking. The DMA and TMA response of these films was attributed to partial annealing by solvent treatment, which resulted in the formation of nuclei of β-sheet crystallization within the film matrix. The increased thermal stability was probably due to the small β-sheet crystals formed, which acted as high-strength junctions between adjacent random coil and α-helix domains. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2717–2724, 1998     

Structure and molecular conformation of tussah silk fibroin films: Effect of methanol

Structural changes of tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin films treated with different water-methanol solutions at 20°C were studied as a function of methanol concentration and immersion time. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the α-helix structure, typical of untreated tussah films, did not change for short immersion times (2 min), regardless of methanol concentration. However, crystallization to β-sheet structure was observed following immersion of tussah films for 30 min in methanol solutions ranging from 20 to 60% (v/v). IR spectra of tussah films untreated and methanol treated for 2 min exhibited strong absorption bands at 1265, 892, and 622 cm^?1, typical of the α-helix conformation. The intensity of the bands assigned to the β-sheet conformation (1245, 965, and 698 cm^?1) increased for the sample treated with 40% methanol for 30 min. Raman spectra of tussah films with α-helix molecular conformation exhibited strong bands at 1657 (amide I), 1263 (amide III), 1106, 908, 530, and 376 cm^?1. Following α → β conformational transition, amide I and III bands shifted to 1668, and to 1241, 1230 cm^?1, respectively. The band at 1106 cm^?1 disappeared and new bands appeared at 1095 and 1073 cm^?1, whereas the intensity of the bands at 530 and 376 cm^?1 decreased significantly. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural changes in poly(L-alanine) induced by heat treatment

Structural changes in poly(L -alanine)(PLA), a model compound related to tussah silk fibroin, induced by heat treatment have been studied by differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. PLA heated below 300°C shows x-ray patterns very similar to those of the α-helix crystalline phase, in addition to the diffraction patterns due to the β structure. Samples heated at 368°C exhibit predominantly the diffraction patterns due to the β crystalline phase. From infrared spectra, PLA samples heated below 280°C are found to be composed of all three molecular conformations: β sheet, random coil, and α helix. The intensity of the infrared absorption at 650 cm^?1 (amide V) assigned to the random coil conformation is decreased by heat treatment above 325°C. The content of the β-sheet structure remains almost constant when the specimen is heated below 325°C, and increases abruptly on heating to around 335°C, while the random coil content is decreased abruptly by heat treatment above 335°C. The α-helix content does not change, regardless of heat treatment. It is suggested therefore that the random coil conformation of PLA transforms directly into the β sheet on heat treatment above 335°C.     

Structural changes induced in tussah silk (Antheraea pernyi) fibroin films by immersion in methanol

The crystalline transition induced by immersion in a methanol/water mixture of tussah silk fibroin (from Antheraea pernyi) film obtained by casting from a 1% solution was studied by x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and infrared spectroscopy. The molecular conformation of the fibroin, consisting mostly of the α-helix and random-coil forms, was transformed into a random-coil and β-rich conformation containing only a small amount of α-helix after immersion for no more than 5 min. The intersheet packing of the β-crystal of the original tussah silk fibroin film was imperfect in the early stage of immersion. However, crystallization proceeded further when the immersion time exceeded 10 min. As a result the sheets in the β-form crystal became closely packed because of the decrease in the content of the random-coil form. The exothermic peak, which appeared at 226°C in the original fibroin and was attributed to the random-coil → β-structure transition, disappeared completely after immersion for 5 min.     

Influence of molecular arrangement on the γ-ray-irradiation solid-state polymerization of 1-octadecyl vinyl ether with a characteristic polymorphism

The polymorphic behavior of 1-octadecyl vinyl ether was investigated by DSC and X-ray diffraction measurements under various temperatures. In DSC measurement of 1-octadecyl vinyl ether in the temperature range of −30 to approximately 50°C, four transition peaks were observed on heating, whereas three transition peaks appeared on cooling. The phase-transition behavior was investigated by the repeating scanning DSC measurements. It was concluded that this compound exhibited four crystalline modifications: α, sub α, β₀, and β₁. It was confirmed by the temperature-controlled X-ray diffraction measurement that these phase transitions are attributed to the change of crystal systems from hexagonal packing (α form) to a distorted orthorhombic (O⟂′) system (β₁ form) via orthorhombic (O⟂) (sub α form) and intermediate β₀ form, although the β₀ form has not yet been clarified. In the γ-ray-irradiation solid-state polymerization for these crystal forms of this compound, the polymerizability of the sub α form is higher than that of other forms, and that of the α form is lowest. The polymerizability demonstrated an unusual increase at a temperature of −83.6°C, probably because the cationic polymerization mechanism is dominant over that of the free radical. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3845–3853, 1999     

Preparation,characterization and properties of β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin

Free amino groups in β-chitin from squid pen were acetylated to obtain N-acetylated β-chitin. After careful control of degree of acetylation, thermal and mechanical properties of β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin were compared. The structural differences of β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis. The results indicated that the crystallinity of N-acetylated β-chitin was higher than that of β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin exhibited characteristics similar to α-chitin. Equilibrium water content (EWC) of β-chitin reached to about 50% and this hydrophilic nature was assumed to be caused by a relatively weak hydrogen bonding force of β-chitin with parallel main chains. On the other hand, EWC of N-acetylated β-chitin was 40% due to the introduction of ordered structure. β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin have the tensile strength of 0.4 and 0.7 Mpa in the swollen state, respectively. Viscoelastic properties and thermal relaxation behaviors were investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). DMTA spectra of these samples showed that α-transition peaks of β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin were observed at 170 and 190°C, respectively. These relaxation peak maxima were assigned to be their glass transition temperature. In addition, a second relaxation peak of β-chitin resulting from acetamide groups was found at 112°C and a broad relaxation peak of N-acetylated β-chitin at around 81–100°C. As a result of thermogravimetric analysis, 10% weight loss temperatures of β-chitin and N-acetylated β-chitin were 270 and 285°C, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the exotherm of polyacrylonitrile. II. Examination of deuterated polymers

A series of α-, β,β-, and α,β,β-deuterium-labelled acrylonitrile monomers were prepared and polymerized. Secondary deuterium isotope effects on the polymerization and on the pyrolysis reactions that precede carbon fiber formation were observed. When deuterium is in the α-position, the polymerization rate is greater and the molecular weight is higher. It is proposed that either the propagation rate constant or both that constant and the termination rate constant are increased on deuterium substitution. In differential scanning calorimetry, the polyacrylonitrile exotherm occurs at higher temperatures and is narrower when deuterium is substituted at the α-position. On the other hand, the thermal gravimetric analysis activation energy for weight loss of polymer at temperatures below the acrylic exotherm is lower when deuterium is in the α-position, relative to the α-hydrogen polymers. As there is no correlation between the weight loss energy of activation and the various exotherm parameters, the weight loss energy of activation and the various exotherm parameters, the weight loss and exotherm are considered to be independent events. Examination of the distribution of deuterium substituted ammonia species evolved during 100–240°C thermal treatment of the α-and β, β-deuterated polyacrylonitriles provides a clear indication that both the α- and β-positions are directly involved in hydrogen migration to nitrogen, but the mechanism of ammonia generation remains unclear. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Lateral thermal expansion of cellulose Iβ and IIII polymorphs

Measurements of the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of cellulose crystals in the lateral direction are reported. Oriented films of highly crystalline cellulose I_β and III_I were prepared and then investigated with X‐ray diffraction at specific temperatures from room temperature to 250 °C during the heating process. Cellulose I_β underwent a transition into the high‐temperature phase with the temperature increasing above 220–230 °C; cellulose III_I was transformed into cellulose I_β when the sample was heated above 200 °C. Therefore, the TECs of I_β and III_I below 200 °C were measured. For cellulose I_β, the TEC of the a axis increased linearly from room temperature at α_a = 4.3 × 10^?5 °C^?1 to 200 °C at α_a = 17.0 × 10^?5 °C^?1, but the TEC of the b axis was constant at α_b = 0.5 × 10^?5 °C^?1. Like cellulose I_β, cellulose III_I also showed an anisotropic thermal expansion in the lateral direction. The TECs of the a and b axes were α_a = 7.6 × 10^?5 °C^?1 and α_b = 0.8 × 10^?5 °C^?1. The anisotropic thermal expansion behaviors in the lateral direction for I_β and III_I were closely related to the intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding systems. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1095–1102, 2002     

Phonons and their dispersion in poly(S-benzyl-L-cysteine)

Poly(S-benzyl-L -cysteine) (PBLC) is a S-benzyl derivative of the natural amino acid poly(L -cysteine). Its normal modes and their dispersion in antiparallel β-sheet conformation have been obtained within the first Brillouin zone using Wilson's G.F. matrix method, as modified by Higgs for an infinite polymeric chain. The zone center frequencies and the Urey Bradley force field have been obtained by “best fitting” the observed Fourier transform IR (FTIR) absorption bands. The characteristic features of dispersion curves such as crossing, repulsion, and exchange of character are discussed. Predictive values of heat capacity in the temperature range of 50–500 K are reported. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3269–3287, 1999     

Stereospecific polymerization of benzyl α-(alkoxymethyl) acrylates

α-(Alkoxymethyl) acrylates, such as methyl α-(phenoxymethyl) acrylate, benzyl α-(methoxymethyl)acrylate (BMMA), benzyl α-(benzyloxymethyl)acrylate, and benzyl α-(tert-butoxymethyl)acrylate, were synthesized, and their polymerizability and the stereoregularity of the polymers obtained by radical and anionic methods were investigated. The radically obtained polymers were found to be atactic by ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR analyses, but the polymers obtained with lithium reagents in toluene at −78°C were highly isotactic. Further, it is noteworthy that isotactic polymers were also produced with lithium reagents even in tetrahydrofuran. Effects of polymerization temperature and counter cation on stereoregularity were clearly observed in the polymerization of BMMA, and a potassium reagent afforded an almost atactic polymer. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 721–726, 1997     

Lateral thermal expansion of chitin crystals

Measurements of the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of chitin crystals in the lateral direction are reported. We investigated highly crystalline α chitin from the Paralithodes tendon and an anhydrous form of β chitin from a Lamellibrachia tube from room temperature to 250 °C, using X‐ray diffraction at selected temperatures in the heating process. For α chitin, the TECs of the a and b axes were α_a = 6.0 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹ and α_b = 5.7 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹, indicating an isotropic thermal expansion in the lateral direction. However, the anhydrous β chitin exhibited an anisotropic thermal expansion in the lateral direction. The TEC of the a axis was constant at α_a = 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹, but the TEC of the b axis increased linearly from room temperature to 250 °C, with α_b = 3.0–14.6 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹. These differences in the lateral thermal expansion behaviors of the α chitin and the anhydrous β chitin are due to their different intermolecular hydrogen bonding systems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 168–174, 2001     

Thermally reversible covalently bonded linear polymers prepared from a dihalide monomer and a salt of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acid

Alkali and earth‐alkali salts of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acid (DCPDCA) were prepared and employed as monomers in the polyesterification with an α,ω‐dihalide monomer, such as 1,4‐dichlorobutane (DCB), 1,4‐dibromobutane (DBB), α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene (DCX), and α,α′‐dibromo‐p‐xylene (DBX). Novel linear polymers that possessed repeating moieties of dicyclopentadiene ( DCPD ) in the backbone were thus prepared. The IR and NMR spectra indicated that poly(tetramethylene dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylate) (PTMDD) with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n ) of about 1× 10⁴ and poly(p‐xylene dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylate) (PXDD) with a M_n of 4–6 × 10³ were obtained with an yield of about 80% via the polyesterification of the alkali salts with DBB and DCX, respectively. The reaction was carried out in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, such as BzMe₃NBr or poly(ethylene glycol), in DMF at 100 °C for 4 h. Oligomers with a lower M_n (1–2 × 10³) were obtained when the earth‐alkali salts were employed as salt monomers. Compared to the irreversible linear polymers, poly(p‐xylene terephthalate) (PXTP) and poly(p‐xylene maleate) (PXM), prepared through the reaction between DCX and the potassium salts of terephthalic and maleic acid, respectively, the specific viscosities (η_sp) of the new linear polymers increased abnormally with the decrease of the temperature from 200 °C to 100 °C. This occurred due to the thermally reversible dedimerization/redimerization of  DCPD moieties of the backbone of the polymers via the catalyst‐free Diels–Alder/retro Diels–Alder cycloadditive reactions. The ratio of the η_sp at 100 °C and 200 °C of the reversible polymers was found to be much higher than that of PXTP and PXM, even when the heating/cooling cycle was carried out several times under a N₂ atmosphere. The obtained results indicated that thermally reversible covalently bonded linear polymer can be obtained by introducing the  DCPD structure into the backbone of the polymer through the polymerization of a monomer containing the  DCPD moiety. The reversible natures of the polymers and oligomers might be useful in preparing easily processable and recyclable polymers and thermosensor materials. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1662–1672, 2000     

The pressure tolerance of different poly-l-lysine conformers in aqueous solution: Infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation analysis

Poly-l-lysine can form either of three different conformers as α-helix, anti-parallel β-sheet and random coil stably under appropriate conditions. In buffer solution poly-l-lysine exists in a random coil at about pH 4, an α-helix above pH 12, and transforms from α-helix to β-sheet when the sample is heated to 46 °C for 30 min. The effects of elevated hydrostatic pressure on three different initial conformers of poly-l-lysine are investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation analysis. Changes observed in the amide I′ band indicate that the α-helix conformer undergo hydration enhancement at low pressure (<400 MPa), then gradually transition into an α′-helix. Two initial conformers, the β-sheet and random coiled polypeptide, undergo conformational changes to an α-helix at low pressure and to an α′-helix at high pressure. Moreover, the conversion occurred at a lower pressure for the β-sheet (∼250 MPa) than for the α-helix (∼300 MPa) and the random coil (∼850 MPa).     

Einkristallstudien zur Temperaturabhängigkeit der Kristallstruktur von α-Na3Hg

Temperature Dependent Single Crystal Investigations of α-Na₃Hg In contrast to β-Na₃Hg (rhomboedrally distorted Li₃Bi-type) α-Na₃Hg crystallizes in a hitherto poorly understood variant of the Na₃As-type. Based on temperature dependent measurements of poly- and single crystalline samples (?100°C < T < +35°C) we show, that in particular the sodium atoms (Na1) located in the region of the octahedral Hg₆-holes show a pronounced temperature dependent dynamical behaviour. To a lesser extend this is also true for the tetrahedrally coordinated Na-atoms (Na2). With increasing temperature the former ones more and more approach the centers of the opposite triangular faces of mercury atoms, limiting the Hg₆-octahedra along [001]. Occupation of the latter positions by sodium atoms would lead to unusual short interatomic distances d_{Na? Hg}. However before reaching this unreasonable situation α-Na₃Hg decomposes under formation of β-Na₃Hg.     

Radical homo- and copolymerizations of methyl α-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate

Radical homo- and copolymerizations of methyl α-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (MTFAA) are studied by using azo initiators at 40 and 60°C. The rate of the homopolymerization of MTFAA was lower than that of methyl α-acetoxyacrylate. Monomer reactivity ratios (r), and Q and e values were estimated to be r₁ = 0.03, r₂ = 0.27, Q₁ = 0.65, and e₁ = 1.38 from the copolymerization of MTFAA (M₁) and styrene (M₂) at 60°C. Preferential crosspropagation was observed in particular in the copolymerization of MTFAA and α-methylstyrene. The influence of replacing the hydrogens of the acetoxy moiety of the acyloxyacrylate with the fluorines upon the copolymerization reactivity is discussed on the basis of the ¹³C-NMR chemical shift of various acyloxyacrylates. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3537–3541, 1997     

Preparation and physical properties of poly(4,4′‐diamino‐3′‐carbamoylbenzanilide terephthalamide) and poly(4,4′‐diamino‐3′‐carbamoylbenzanilide isophthalamide) films

To prepare thermally stable and high‐performance polymeric films, new solvent‐soluble aromatic polyamides with a carbamoyl pendant group, namely poly(4,4′‐diamino‐3′‐carbamoylbenzanilide terephthalamide) (p‐PDCBTA) and poly(4,4′‐diamino‐3′‐carbamoylbenzanilide isophthalamide) (m‐PDCBTA), were synthesized. The polymers were cyclized at around 200 to 350 °C to form quinazolone and benzoxazinone units along the polymer backbone. The decomposition onset temperatures of the cyclized m‐ and p‐PDCBTAs were 457 and 524 °C, respectively, lower than that of poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (566 °C). For the p‐PDCBTA film drawn by 40% and heat‐treated, the tensile strength and Young's modulus were 421 MPa and 16.4 GPa, respectively. The film cyclized at 350 °C showed a storage modulus (E′) of 1 × 10¹¹ dyne/cm² (10 GPa) over the temperature range of room temperature to 400 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 775–780, 2000     

Thermal stabilities of homopolymers of amino acids

In order to study the thermal stabilities of the α-helical polyamino acids in the solid state, measurements of the infrared spectra at high temperature, weight loss by thermogravimetry, and the expansion of the α-helix by x-ray diffractometry were carried out on poly(γ-methyl D -glutamate), poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate), poly-L -alanine, poly(β-benzyl L -aspartate), poly-δ-carbobenzoxy-L -ornithine and poly-ε-carbobenzoxy-L -lysine. The thermal degradation temperatures of these polymers lie between 140°C and 230°C. The α-helical conformation is stable at high temperature in these polyamino acids, except for poly(β-benzyl L -asparatate), unless thermal degradation takes place. As temperature rises, the amide A and the amide I bands of the infrared spectra shift slightly to higher frequencies and the amide II band to lower frequencies. At the same time, the intensities of these amide bands decrease. These changes differ among the different molecules. From the x-ray measurement, it was found that the α-helix expands along the helical axis with temperature. It is expected that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the α-helix become weak with increasing temperature and that the state of the hydrogen bonds of the α-helices depends upon the molecules.     

Cyclopolymerization of amine-linked diacrylate monomers

New diacrylate monomers for cyclopolymerization were synthesized from the reaction of ethyl α-chloromethylacrylate (ECMA) and t-butyl α-bromomethyl acrylate (TBBr) with aniline, adamantyl amine, t-butyl amine, cyanamide, and 4-tetradecyl aniline in yields of ca. 50–70%. Bulk and solution polymerizations with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 60–85°C gave soluble cyclopolymers with M_n and M_w ranging from 10,000–30,000 and 12,000–40,000, respectively. The ECMA–cyanamide derivative only gave crosslinked polymers. ¹H and ¹³C solution NMR indicated high cyclization efficiency (>93%). A prototype NLO polymer was synthesized from the reaction of the TBBr–aniline cyclopolymer with tetracyanoethylene. The p-hydroxyaniline derivative of ECMA was synthesized and used for further derivatizations; for example, the benzoate ester was made and polymerized (M_n = 21,260 and M_w = 40,317). The ester groups of the TBBrndash;aniline polymer were hydrolyzed completely to give a polymer with both acid and base moieties. DSC thermograms showed glass transitions of 132°C for the ECMA–aniline derivative, 192°C for the ECMA–adamantyl derivative, 53°C for the TBBr–tetradecylaniline derivative, and 120° for the ECMA–p-benzoylaniline derivative. The ECMA–t-butyl amine polymer showed no obvious T_g. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2111–2121, 1997     

Transformations of α- and β-ionones in the presence of Al2O3 in a supercritical solvent in a flow reactor

The reactivity of α- and β-ionones under the supercritical conditions in a flow type reactor in the presence of Al₂O₃ at 200–230°C was studied. α-Ionone was reduced to α-ionol, while β-ionol was unstable already at 200°C and underwent dehydration. The secondary reaction products were the corresponding megastigmatrienes.     

Piezoelectric properties of oriented films of poly(γ-methyl D-glutamate)

The dynamic piezoelectric stress constant e^*₂₅ of drawn films of poly(γ-methyl D -glutamate) (PMDG) cast from solutions in α-helix-promoting solvents 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) and chloroform and from the nonhelicogenic solvent dichloroacetic acid (DCA) was measured from ?180°C to 200°C at 110 Hz. The drawn and annealed films cast from chloroform show a small peak for the real part of piezoelectric stress constant ?e′₂₅ in the temperature range of the mechanical α₂-crystalline relaxation, which is caused by the distortion motion of the backbone chain of the α-helix. On the other hand, drawn films cast from DCE show the peak of the real part of the piezoelectric stress constant, whose magnitude decreases in the range of the mechanical α₁-crystalline relaxation or the β-relaxation processes, which were previously ascribed, respectively, to mutual slipping of α-helices and to the micro-Brownian motion of disordered regions. Also, ?e′₂₅ becomes virtually zero near 180°C where the α₂-relaxation is located. These results suggest that the polarization change induced by applied strain is caused by distortion of the backbone chains in the α-helix. Near 0°C, the temperature range of the side-chain mechanical relaxation, ?e′₂₅ exhibits a marked peak both for films cast from chloroform and from DCE. The maximum value of ?e′₂₅ and the orientation function of the α-helix axis are linearly related and extrapolation of ?e′_25,max to unit orientation function gives 1.3 × 10⁴ cgs esu which corresponds to 2.4 Debye per residue. This value corresponds reasonably to the value of 3.71 Debye for the permanent dipole moment of NHCO bond if the correction for crystallinity is made. This result also indicates the piezoelectric properties of PMDG arise from distortion of the backbone chain of the α-helix induced by applied strain.