Development and characterization of RSF/MWCNT composite fibers

This paper represents the development and characterization of electrically conductive Regenerated SilkFibroin (RSF)/ MultiWalled Carbon NanoTube (MWCNT) composite fibers formed througth wet-spinning technique.The ability of RSF in stabilizing of MWCNTs in spinning solution was investigated using Dynamic Light Scattering(DLS). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed fibers with circular cross section and also confirmed the properdistribution of MWCNTs in the RSF matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that crystalinity ofnanocomposites increased with increasing the MWCNT content. Moreover, the measurement of four-point probeelectrical conductivity for different MWCNTs content shows a maximum conductivity of 0.11 mS/cm at percolationthreshold. The higher thermal stability and greater crystalinity were also evidenced by Dynamic Scanning Calorimetric(DSC) thermal analysis.

Keywords:

Carbon Nanotube , regenerated silk fibroin , Wet spinning , composite fiber