11.15.05
Patent No. US 6,719,985 B1: The National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, and Eaudeleman Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan, patented a process to obtain crystalline superfine silk powder particles less than 3mm in diameter. The steps include contacting a silk substance with an alkali aqueous solution at high temperatures and pressures, dealkalizing and drying the silk substance and powdering it.