1H pulsed NMR study of bombyx mori silk fibroin: Dynamics of fibroin and of absorbed water

The dynamical behavior of the Bombyx mori silk fibroin chain and of absorbed water in silk fiber, film, and powder has been studied by 1H pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Segmental motions do not occur and only the rapid rotation of the methyl groups of alanine residues is observed from −120 to 130°C. This is independent of the conformation or form of the silk fibroin samples. Magnetization of dry silk fibroin by the solid‐echo method shows a single Gaussian decay, while two components are observed in the solid‐echo signals of films containing 6–10 w/w% water. An immobile component with a T2 value of 11 μs is attributed to silk fibroin, and the mobile component to bound water. The T2 of the latter varies from 50 to 200 μs, depending on the sample. The dynamical behavior of water trapped in the film is discussed on the basis of these T2 values.