Process for spinning polypeptide fibers from solutions of lithium thiocyanate and liquefied phenol

摘要

This invention relates to novel processes for preparing polypeptide solutions and spinning them into fibers. The process involves dissolving a polypeptide in a solvent system comprising lithium thiocyanate (LiSCN) and a liquefied phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol, m-chlorophenol, m-fluorophenol, and m-bromophenol or mixtures thereof. The solutions may be spun using certain wet spinning and dry-jet wet spinning methods. The process is especially useful for making silk fibroin fibers.