Method for producing thread bundle of bagworm silk thread
Provided is a method developed for producing a thread bundle with high efficiency in terms of spun thread collection and without causing mechanical damage to a foothold silk thread spun by a bagworm onto a base material. After a bagworm is placed along with a solvent-soluble base material and allowed to spin the foothold silk thread onto the surface of the base material, the base material is dissolved with a solvent to separate the foothold silk thread therefrom.
1. A method for producing a thread bundle of a bagworm foothold silk thread, comprising:
placing process of placing a bagworm together with a solvent-soluble base material(s);
spinning process of allowing the bagworm to spin the bagworm foothold silk thread onto the solvent-soluble base material(s);
dissolving process of dissolving the solvent-soluble base material(s) with a solvent; and
separation process of separating the bagworm foothold silk thread spun onto the base material(s) from the solvent-soluble base material(s), and
wherein the solvent does not damage, denature, or dissolve the bagworm foothold silk thread.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising collection process of collecting the bagworm together with a nest after the spinning process and before the dissolving process.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is water.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a low-polarity solvent.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising washing process of washing the separated bagworm foothold silk thread.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising drying process of drying the separated bagworm foothold silk thread.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the base material(s) is/are placed on a support.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the base material(s) has/have a planar shape or three-dimensional shape.
9. An unwoven fabric formed of a bagworm foothold silk thread(s) obtainable by using the method for producing a thread bundle according to claim 1 .
10. A method for producing a thread bundle of a bagworm foothold silk thread, comprising:
placing process of placing a bagworm together with a thermally meltable base material(s);
spinning process of allowing the bagworm to spin the bagworm foothold silk thread onto the thermally meltable base material(s);
melting process of melting the thermally meltable base material(s) under heating at a temperature which does not damage, thermally denature, or melt the bagworm foothold silk thread; and
separation process of separating the bagworm foothold silk thread spun onto the base material(s) from the thermally meltable base material(s).
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising collection process of collecting the bagworm together with a nest after the spinning process and before the melting process.