Mode III Tear Resistance of Bombyx mori Silk Cocoons

Abstract

This paper concerns the tear properties and behavior of Bombyx mori (B. Mori) silk cocoons. The tear resistance of cocoon layers is found to increase progressively from the innermost layer to the outermost layer. Importantly, the increase in tear strength correlates with increased porosity, which itself affects fiber mobility. We propose a microstructural mechanism for tear failure, which begins with fiber stretching and sliding, leading to fiber piling, and eventuating in fiber fracture. The direction of fracture is then deemed to be a function of the orientation of piled fibers, which is influenced by the presence of junctions where fibers cross at different angles and which may then act as nucleating sites for fiber piling. The interfaces between cocoon wall layers in B. mori cocoon walls account for 38% of the total wall tear strength. When comparing the tear energies and densities of B. mori cocoon walls against other materials, we find that the B. mori cocoon walls exhibit a balanced trade-off between tear resistance and lightweightness.