The present invention, in some aspects, provides compositions including a solution comprising a plurality of exfoliated silk microfibrils and/or exfoliated silk nanofibrils, wherein the micro- or nano-fibrils are characterized as having a substantially nematic structure, as well as methods for making and using the same.

The present invention, in some aspects, provides compositions including a solution comprising a plurality of exfoliated silk microfibrils and/or exfoliated silk nanofibrils, wherein the micro- or nano-fibrils are characterized as having a substantially nematic structure, as well as methods for making and using the same.

The invention provides a drying apparatus and a method for a raw silk degumming process. The drying apparatus includes a drying oven in which a silk strand cover and an air supply unit are disposed. An upper opening and a lower opening are respectively provided at the top and the bottom of the silk strand cover. A silk strand to be dried passes through the silk strand cover. A convex portion is disposed on a sidewall of the silk strand cover, which is protruded toward an outer side of the silk strand cover. The air supply unit is used for providing an air supply flow into the silk strand cover to dry the silk strand. A falling point of the air supply flow is located at the convex portion of the silk strand cover. By means of the apparatus, silkworm silk can be endowed with special elasticity and fluffiness performances.

The invention provides a drying apparatus and a method for a raw silk degumming process. The drying apparatus includes a drying oven in which a silk strand cover and an air supply unit are disposed. An upper opening and a lower opening are respectively provided at the top and the bottom of the silk strand cover. A silk strand to be dried passes through the silk strand cover. A convex portion is disposed on a sidewall of the silk strand cover, which is protruded toward an outer side of the silk strand cover. The air supply unit is used for providing an air supply flow into the silk strand cover to dry the silk strand. A falling point of the air supply flow is located at the convex portion of the silk strand cover. By means of the apparatus, silkworm silk can be endowed with special elasticity and fluffiness performances.

Developed and provided is a method of collecting a large amount of high-quality bagworm silk threads having no contaminant from bagworm nests in a convenient manner and at low cost. The habit of bagworms is utilized to allow a bagworm to build a nest using solvent-soluble substances or thermally meltable substances as nest materials, followed by dissolving or melting the nest materials to separate the nest material from the bagworm silk threads, whereby only pure bagworm silk threads constituting the bagworm nest can be obtained.

Developed and provided is a method of collecting a large amount of high-quality bagworm silk threads having no contaminant from bagworm nests in a convenient manner and at low cost. The habit of bagworms is utilized to allow a bagworm to build a nest using solvent-soluble substances or thermally meltable substances as nest materials, followed by dissolving or melting the nest materials to separate the nest material from the bagworm silk threads, whereby only pure bagworm silk threads constituting the bagworm nest can be obtained.

A process is provided for identifying a production and/or commercial history of a silk fiber or a product made therefrom.

A process is provided for identifying a production and/or commercial history of a silk fiber or a product made therefrom.

A method for manufacturing an electrical circuit component includes preparing a mixture of a structured material and silkworm food. The method further includes feeding the mixture to at least one silkworm. The method further includes harvesting silk produced by the at least one silkworm, wherein the harvested silk includes at least one silkworm silk fiber including silkworm-digested portions of the structured material embedded in or on the at least one fiber. The method further includes incorporating the at least one fiber into an electrical circuit component.

A bagworm silk thread spun on a base material was conventionally difficult to be collected, and thus, cannot be utilized. An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a method in which such a bagworm silk thread is peeled off from a base material with a weak force without being damaged and is collected as a thread bundle.

Provided is a method for producing a thread bundle of a bagworm silk thread, including: applying, to a bagworm silk thread spun on the surface of a base material, a wetting liquid which presents a liquid form at least in the range of 20° C. or more and less than 30° C. and does not damage, denature, or dissolve the silk thread; and then separating the bagworm silk thread from the base material.