Changes in microstructural parameters of NB4D2 silk fibres due to electron irradiation: X-ray line profile analysis

The present study is concerned with changes of microcrystalline parameters in NB4D2 (Bombyx mori) silk fibres, due to electron irradiation. The irradiation process was performed in air at room temperature using 8 MeV electron beam at different dose rates: 0, 25, 50 and 75 kGy, respectively. X-ray recording of these irradiated samples and the line profile analysis were carried out. The crystal imperfection parameters such as crystallite size 〈N〉, lattice strain (g in %) and surface weighted crystallite size (D s) were computed and compared with other physical parameters in order to asertain the changes that have crept into these irradiated fibres. Exponential, lognormal and Reinhold functions for the column length distributions have been used for the determination of these parameters.