The Effect of HPMC Concentration on the Morphology and Post Drawing of Wet Spun Regenerated SF/HPMC Blend Filaments

In this paper, the regenerated silk fibroin (SF)/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) blend filaments were prepared by wet spinning and the effect of HPMC concentration on the post drawing and morphology of blend filaments was elucidated. The result of maximum draw ratio indicated that the wet spinnability of wet spun SF / HPMC was improved with increasing HPMC concentration until 8% and remained constant after that concentration. The SEM observation revealed that the enhanced wet spinnability of blend filaments was strongly related to the morphological change by increasing HPMC concentration. Regardless of HPMC concentration, as SF content was reduced, the wet spinnability of blend film decreased resulting in reduced maximum draw ratio. It was also found by SEM observation that the cross section of blend filament deviated from circularity with an increase of HPMC content.