Method for producing thread bundle derived from bagworm silk threads spun on the surface of a base material

Abstract

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.

1 . A method for producing a thread bundle of a bagworm silk thread, comprising:
 wetting liquid applying process of applying a wetting liquid to the bagworm silk thread spun on the surface of a base material; and   separating the bagworm silk thread from the base material,   wherein the wetting liquid is in a liquid form at least in the range of 20° C. or more and less than 30° C. under the atmospheric pressure, and is a pure substance or a mixture that does not damage, denature, or dissolve a fibroin protein which is a fiber component of the bagworm silk thread.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spinning process of placing a bagworm on the surface of the base material before the wetting liquid applying process and allowing the bagworm to spin the thread. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising a bagworm collection process of collecting the bagworm together with a nest after the spinning process and before the wetting liquid applying process. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a washing process of washing the separated bagworm silk thread. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a degumming process of degumming the separated bagworm silk thread. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wetting liquid is a pure substance or a mixture that has a melting point of less than 20° C. and a boiling point of 30° C. or more and 300° C. or less. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wetting liquid is an aqueous solution or an organic solvent. 
     
     
         8 . A method for collecting a bagworm silk thread spun on the surface of a base material, comprising:
 applying a wetting liquid to the bagworm silk thread spun on the surface of the base material; and   separating the bagworm silk thread from the base material,   wherein the wetting liquid is in a liquid form at least in the range of 20° C. or more and less than 30° C. under the atmospheric pressure, and is a pure substance or a mixture that does not damage, denature, or dissolve a fibroin protein which is a fiber component of the bagworm silk thread.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the wetting liquid is an aqueous solution or an organic solvent. 
     
     
         10 . A bagworm silk thread(s) obtainable by the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An unwoven fabric formed of a bagworm silk thread(s) obtainable by using the method for producing a thread bundle according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A bagworm silk thread(s) obtainable by the method for collecting a bagworm silk thread according to  claim 8 .