Effect of Organic Solvents on Tensile Strength of Muga Silk Produced by Antheraea assamensis

As a natural protein, silk has a tremendous demand as textile commodity. However, compared to Bombyx mori silk, commonly known as mulberry silk, the other non-mulberry silks have some drawbacks like coarseness, low draping, wash and wear characteristics etc. which can be changed using chemical treatment. In this study, effects of some highly polar, non-polar and bipolar solvents on fibre of muga silk have been studied in terms of tensile strength. Methanol and Phenol treated fiber showed higher tensile strength than DMSO, Formaldehyde, Toluene, DMF, Benzene, Ethanol and THF treated fibres respectively. Chemical degradation occurs under the action of some chemicals, other agents and distinguishable depending upon the nature of the bond rupture.