Scientists from Nankai University in China have developed a variety of fibre that mimics the qualities of spider silk. Their simple synthetic method engineers artificial spider silk using hydrogel fibres made from polyacrylic acid. The material has mechanical properties comparable to spider silk and has high strength, slow elasticity and good scalability.
Spider silk, one of the strongest and toughest natural fibres, has superior mechanical properties. Earlier efforts to develop artificial spider silk with silk protein were not suitable for mass production.Scientists from Nankai University in China have developed a variety of fibre that mimics the qualities of spider silk. Their simple synthetic method engineers artificial spider silk using hydrogel fibres made from polyacrylic acid. The material has mechanical properties comparable to spider silk and has high strength, slow elasticity and good scalability.#
The research will allow new designs of novel fibres that can be used for energy absorption and impact reduction, according to a report in the journal ‘Nature Communications’.
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