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Studying noninvasively the internal nanoporous structureof a singleTussah silk fiber under different humidity conditions, we demonstratefor the first time the feasibility of in-situ ptychographic tomography.The resulting 3D images of the silk fiber interior, obtained at bothdry and humid conditions, yield quantitative information about thespatial density variations in the form of detailed maps of the size,shape, and orientation distributions of the nanopores inside the silkfiber, revealing that the fiber swells anisotropically in humid conditions,with the expansion taking place solely normal to the fiber axis. Exploitingquantitative information on the fiber’s electron density, hydrationwas found to proceed through interaction with the silk protein ratherthan filling of pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: By mapping the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) from a looped poly-(para-phenylene terephtalamide) (aramid, PPTA) filament using a synchrotron X-ray microbeam, we investigate the effects of axially compressive and tensile strain on internal fibrillar structures. Unique observations of oscillations in the highly anisotropic SAXS patterns indicate a regular internal structure. Upon increase of the applied compressive strain, a significant decrease in oscillation frequency is observed in the scattering pattern. With an increase in imposed tensile strain an increase in oscillation frequency in the scattering pattern is observed. One model capable of describing the intensity is a model of stacked cylinders. These cylinders could be part of the fibrillar structure present in the PPTA fibres, which consist of cylinder- to tape-like objects, the presence of which is supported by SEM images. One hypothetical physical interpretation presented here for the appearance of a regular internal structure is the occurrence of fibrillar separation in regions undergoing axially compressive strain, and the appearance of strain relief/slip planes between packs of fibrils in regions undergoing tensile strain. Compaction of these packs upon increase of tensile strain could increase the repetition distance in the structure as multiple packs combine to form a single pack. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]