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Bombyx mori cocoon is a natural composite made of silk fibre with a distinctive multi-layer structure that provides mechanical protection for its biological functions. Here we investigate the components, structure and mechanical properties of cocoon layers, and quantify the contributions of the multi-layer structure to the mechanical properties of cocoon. A better understanding of the multi-layer mechanism of a natural composite could help the further design of biomimetic multiscale artificial materials.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.actbio.2012.03.043

Type

Journal article

Journal

Acta Biomater

Publication Date

07/2012

Volume

8

Pages

2620 - 2627

Keywords

Animal Structures, Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Bombyx, Materials Testing, Principal Component Analysis, Silk, Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared, Surface Properties, Tensile Strength