Chemical Modification of Tussah Silk Fabrics with Ethyleneglycol Diglycidyl Ether by a Pad-batch Method

Tussah silk fabrics have been chemically modified by pad-batch treatment with ethyleneglycol diglycidyl ether (EDGE). The maximum amount of weight gain attained was 5 – 6 %. Epoxide adducts were formed with tyrosine and basic amino acid residues. The moisture regain of the fabric with 3 % weight gain decreased slightly compared with that of the untreated sample. The crease recovery in the wet state improved significantly, while in dry state it remained unchanged. The position of the major DSC endothermic transition at 358 ºC remained unchanged, regardless of the epoxide modification. Similar comments apply to the TMA contraction peak occurring at about 359 ºC. The storage and loss modulus curves of EDGE-treated tussah silk fibres exhibited some changes, the most relevant consisting in a shift to higher temperature of the loss modulus peak